Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer Skin Balancing Hydration Serum Versus Origins Youthtopia Peptide Plumping Apple Cream

Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer Skin Balancing Hydration Serum Versus Origins Youthtopia Peptide Plumping Apple Cream

This hydrating serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Ceramide Ng to hydrate skin and refine skin texture.

This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Squalane to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Dimethicone

Butylene Glycol

Glycerin

Niacinamide

Trisiloxane

Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate

Trehalose

Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract

Cholesterol

Ceramide Ng

Linoleic Acid

Salicylic Acid

Lactic Acid

Glycolic Acid

Citric Acid

Algae Extract

Saccharomyces Lysate Extract

Betula Alba Bark Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Thermus Thermophillus Ferment

Laminaria Saccharina Extract

Silybum Marianum Extract

Caffeine

Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane

Acetyl Glucosamine

Sodium Hyaluronate

Sorbitol

Sodium Magnesium Silicate

PEG-8

Sucrose

T-Butyl Alcohol

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Oleth-10

Carbomer

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

Xanthan Gum

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters

Sodium Hydroxide

Tromethamine

Di-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride

Silica

Parfum

Benzyl Salicylate

Limonene

Linalool

CI 77891

Synthetic Fluorphlogopite

Tin Oxide

Mica

Caprylyl Glycol

BHT

Disodium EDTA

Hexylene Glycol

Tocopheryl Acetate

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Phenoxyethanol

Sodium Benzoate

Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Trisiloxane, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Trehalose, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Cholesterol, Ceramide Ng, Linoleic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, Algae Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Silybum Marianum Extract, Caffeine, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitol, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, PEG-8, Sucrose, T-Butyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Oleth-10, Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Sodium Hydroxide, Tromethamine, Di-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride, Silica, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77891, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Mica, Caprylyl Glycol, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Hexylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate

Squalane

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Isoamyl Laurate

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Cetearyl Olivate

Pyrus Malus Seed Oil

Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract

Pyrus Malus Fiber

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

Laminaria Digitata Extract

Lactobacillus Ferment

Oryzanol

Tocopherol

Glycine Soja Oil

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Ethylhexylglycerin

Lecithin

Resveratrol

Sorbitan Olivate

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil

Mentha Piperita Oil

Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil

Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil

Mimosa Tenuiflora Leaf Extract

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Citrus Limon Peel Oil

Rosa Damascena Flower Extract

Rosa Damascena Flower Oil

Michelia Alba Flower Oil

Copaifera Officinalis Resin

Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil

Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract

Ricinus Communis Seed Oil

Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil

Citral

Citronellol

Geraniol

PEG-40 Stearate

Potassium Sorbate

Water, Glycerin, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isoamyl Laurate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Olivate, Pyrus Malus Seed Oil, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Pyrus Malus Fiber, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Oryzanol, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Resveratrol, Sorbitan Olivate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Mimosa Tenuiflora Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Michelia Alba Flower Oil, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Linalool, Citral, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, PEG-40 Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Mica, CI 77891

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.

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though 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.

Caffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.

As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.

Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.

You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.

Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.

Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.

Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.

Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.

It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.

Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.

A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.

Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.

It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.

Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.

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.

We don't have a description for Laminaria Saccharina Extract yet.

Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.

It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".

Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.

When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.

The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.

Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.

Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.

This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.

Mica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.

Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.

This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.

Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.

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!

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.

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