Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum Versus COSRX Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream Mist

Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum Versus COSRX Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream Mist

This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin.

This barrier-repair treatment is formulated around Panthenol and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Propanediol

Glycerin

Sodium Hyaluronate

Hydroxyacetophenone

Sodium Citrate

Citric Acid

Ethylhexylglycerin

Tocopherol

Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol

Ethylhexyl Palmitate

1,2-Hexanediol

Butylene Glycol

Hydroxypropyl Bislauramide Mea

Methyl Gluceth-10

Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate

Dipropylene Glycol

Panthenol

Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate

Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer

Tromethamine

PPG-8-Ceteth-20

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Cetearyl Alcohol

Stearic Acid

Ceramide NP

Ceramide Ns

Cholesterol

Phytosphingosine

Ceramide AP

Ceramide As

Ceramide EOP

Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Bislauramide Mea, Methyl Gluceth-10, Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Panthenol, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Sodium Citrate, Tromethamine, PPG-8-Ceteth-20, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP

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.

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.

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.

Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.

Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.

The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).

Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.

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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