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Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum Versus e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Hydrating Serum

Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum Versus e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Hydrating Serum This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin. This hydrating serum is formulated around Butyrospermum Parkii Butter and Simmondsia Chin

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum Versus e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Hydrating Serum

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

This hydrating serum is formulated around Butyrospermum Parkii Butter and Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.

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

Butylene Glycol

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate

Dimethicone

Steareth-21

Steareth-2

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Phenoxyethanol

Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Caprylyl Glycol

Carbomer

Tromethamine

Tocopheryl Acetate

Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract

Disodium EDTA

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Steareth-21, Steareth-2, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA

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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.

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!

Similar Comparisons

The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

Connected source records selected through this article’s public topic index.

01

Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

Ingredient index

Ingredients Explained

  1. 01These ingredients are found in both products.
  2. 02Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
  3. 03Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
  4. 04Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
  5. 05Though 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.
  6. 06Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
  7. 07There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
  8. 08D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
  9. 09Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
  10. 10Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
  11. 11This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
  12. 12Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
  13. 13This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
  14. 14Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
  15. 15It 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.
  16. 16On 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.
  17. 17Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
  18. 18You'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.
  19. 19Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
  20. 20Safety-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.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
02

Product index

Related product references

Product

KU2 Hyaluronic Acid Serum

KU2 Hyaluronic Acid Serum KU2 Hyaluronic Acid Serum ingredients explained: Aqua, Pentylene Glycol, Trehalose, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Glycerin, Silk A…

Source: incidecoder.comView reference →
03

Comparison edit

Read side by side

04

Ask the journal

Related questions

01Is Serum Good for All Skin Types?

Serums are a form of skincare that can be added to any routine no matter what your skin type is. All skin types can benefit from the use of a serum since there are so many different formulations that can target specific skincare concerns. “Serums are used for hydration,to aid [or] maintain the skin barrier, or treat skin issues like acne or rosacea,” says Dr. Lewis. The type of serum that you may use should depend on the skin issue you’re trying to target. Think of serums as a treatment for the skin. “Some serums can reverse damage and help prevent free radicals that cause the signs of aging skin,” adds Dr. Lewis.

Source · www.skincare.com ⟶
02When and How to Use Hyaluronic Acid in Your Routine

Products with hyaluronic acid can be used in the morning or at night (or both!). Applying the hydrating ingredient at night will restore your skin’s resilience while you sleep, and applying it in the morning will leave your skin feeling plump, hydrated and ready for makeup. Hyaluronic acid is great at providing topical hydration when it’s introduced into a balanced skincare routine. According to Dr. King, it’s important to pair your hyaluronic acid products with an emollient or occlusive moisturizer to lock in hydration.

Source · www.skincare.com ⟶

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