Skin science article
AXIS - Y Calamine Pore Control Capsule Serum Versus Isntree Ultra-Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum
AXIS - Y Calamine Pore Control Capsule Serum Versus Isntree Ultra-Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum This serum is formulated around Bromelain and Centella Asiatica Extract to support the skin barrier and smooth texture. This hydrating serum is formulated aro
AXIS - Y Calamine Pore Control Capsule Serum Versus Isntree Ultra-Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum
This serum is formulated around Bromelain and Centella Asiatica Extract to support the skin barrier and smooth texture.
This hydrating serum is formulated around Panthenol and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Butylene Glycol
Dipropylene Glycol
1,2-Hexanediol
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
Calamine
Bromelain
Iris Versicolor Extract
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Sucrose
Mannitol
Zea Mays Starch
Microcrystalline Cellulose
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Centella Asiatica Extract
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Castanea Crenata Shell Extract
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Dextrin
Palmitic Acid
Allantoin
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Xanthan Gum
Carbomer
C12-16 Alcohols
Sorbitan Isostearate
Disodium EDTA
Tromethamine
Ethylhexylglycerin
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Tocopherol
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Calamine, Bromelain, Iris Versicolor Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Sucrose, Mannitol, Zea Mays Starch, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Dextrin, Palmitic Acid, Allantoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, C12-16 Alcohols, Sorbitan Isostearate, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Tocopherol
Sea Water
Methylpropanediol
Glycerin
Betaine
Pentylene Glycol
Caprylyl Glycol
Panthenol
Malachite Extract
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Glyceryl Glucoside
Sodium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic Acid
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Calcium Hyaluronate
Sodium Sulfated Hyaluronate
Madecassoside
Beta-Glucan
Sodium Stearoyl Hyaluronate
Sodium Oleoyl Hyaluronate
Sea Water, Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Malachite Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Glyceryl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Calcium Hyaluronate, Sodium Sulfated Hyaluronate, Madecassoside, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Stearoyl Hyaluronate, Sodium Oleoyl Hyaluronate
Reviews
Be the first to review
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
Emollient, helping to soften skin
Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Tromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.