frank body Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum Versus HoliFrog Halo AHA + BHA Evening Serum

frank body Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum Versus HoliFrog Halo AHA + BHA Evening Serum

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

This smoothing serum is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Propanediol

Sodium Hyaluronate

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Xanthan Gum

Carrageenan

Tocopherol

Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract

Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract

Glycine Soja Oil

Glycerin

Parfum

Citric Acid

Sodium Citrate

Benzyl Alcohol

Dehydroacetic Acid

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Water, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan, Tocopherol, Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycerin, Parfum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Glycolic Acid

Sodium Hydroxide

Glyceryl Stearate

Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil

Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil

Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil

Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate

Cetearyl Glucoside

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Lactic Acid

Phytic Acid

Salicylic Acid

Oryza Sativa Extract

Rosa Canina Fruit Oil

Superoxide Dismutase

Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract

Vigna Aconitifolia Seed Extract

Sodium PCA

Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Cocos Nucifera Oil

Sea Salt

Sodium Lactate

Lecithin

Phenethyl Alcohol

Maltodextrin

Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate

Sodium Carrageenan

Silica

Soybean Peroxidase

Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lactic Acid, Phytic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Oryza Sativa Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Superoxide Dismutase, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Vigna Aconitifolia Seed Extract, Sodium PCA, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Tocopherol, Sea Salt, Sodium Lactate, Citric Acid, Lecithin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Carrageenan, Dehydroacetic Acid, Silica, Benzyl Alcohol, Soybean Peroxidase

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.

Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.

This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.

As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.

The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.

This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.

It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.

Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.

At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.

Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.

Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.

However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.

Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.

In skincare formulas, citric acid can:

While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.

Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.

Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.

However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.

Dehydroacetic Acid is a synthetic preservative that keeps your products safe from microbes.

As an organic acid, it penetrates microbial cell walls and disrupts cellular metabolism. This makes it effective against bacteria, yeast, and mold.

It is effective at low concentrations (<0.6%). Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-photosensitizing.

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.

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.

Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

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.

Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.

You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.

Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.

It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.

This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.

This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.

In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.

Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.

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.

Similar Comparisons