Skin science article
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Essence Toner Versus First Aid Beauty Hydrating Serum With Hyaluronic Acid
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Essence Toner Versus First Aid Beauty Hydrating Serum With Hyaluronic Acid This barrier-repair toner is formulated around Biosaccharide Gum-1 to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. This hydrating serum is formulated around S
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Essence Toner Versus First Aid Beauty Hydrating Serum With Hyaluronic Acid
This barrier-repair toner is formulated around Biosaccharide Gum-1 to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Colloidal Oatmeal to hydrate skin and calm redness.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Propanediol
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Glycerin
Taurine
1,2-Hexanediol
Caprylyl Glycol
Hydroxyacetophenone
Arginine
Citric Acid
Malachite Extract
Glycine
Water, Propanediol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Glycerin, Taurine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Arginine, Citric Acid, Malachite Extract, Glycine
Glycereth-26
Squalane
Sodium Hyaluronate
Soluble Collagen
Colloidal Oatmeal
Panthenol
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Allantoin
Ethylhexylglycerin
Sorbitan Oleate
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Sodium PCA
Phenoxyethanol
Sodium Hydroxide
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Benzoate
Tetrasodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Soluble Collagen, Colloidal Oatmeal, Panthenol, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Oleate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodium EDTA
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
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!