Dr. Rashel Beauty Elixirs Hyaluronic Acid Instant Hydration Primer Serum Versus Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Dr. Rashel Beauty Elixirs Hyaluronic Acid Instant Hydration Primer Serum Versus Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum

This hydrating serum is formulated around Panthenol and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Propylene Glycol

Propanediol

PEG-20m

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Sodium Hyaluronate

Methylparaben

Disodium EDTA

Caprylhydroxamic Acid

Phenoxyethanol

Ethylhexylglycerin

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Parfum

CI 42090

Water, Propylene Glycol, Propanediol, PEG-20m, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, CI 42090

Glycerin

Butylene Glycol

Panthenol

Pentylene Glycol

Chlorphenesin

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Trehalose

Xylitylglucoside

Anhydroxylitol

Sodium Hydroxide

Yeast Extract

Xylitol

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Carrageenan

Agar

Potassium Chloride

Xanthan Gum

Ultramarines

Titanium Dioxide

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Trehalose, Xylitylglucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Anhydroxylitol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Yeast Extract, Xylitol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Carrageenan, Agar, Potassium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Ultramarines, Titanium Dioxide

Reviews

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

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%.

Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).

It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.

On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.

Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).

You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.

Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.

Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.

Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.

Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.

In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.

Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:

Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.

Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.

You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.

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!

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