Skin science article
Plum Goodness Bulgarian Valley Rose Water Toner Versus Plum Goodness Bulgarian Rose & 2% Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Plum Goodness Bulgarian Valley Rose Water Toner Versus Plum Goodness Bulgarian Rose & 2% Hyaluronic Acid Serum This mild micellar cleanser is made to cleanse while calming and soothing your skin. This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate to
Plum Goodness Bulgarian Valley Rose Water Toner Versus Plum Goodness Bulgarian Rose & 2% Hyaluronic Acid Serum
This mild micellar cleanser is made to cleanse while calming and soothing your skin.
This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Rosa Damascena Flower Extract
Glycerin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Sodium Benzoate
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Gluconate
Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
Citric Acid
Water, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Gluconate, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Citric Acid
Pentylene Glycol
Propanediol
Sucrose
Sorbitol
Gluconolactone
Calcium Gluconate
Benzyl Alcohol
Hydroxyacetophenone
Caprylyl Glycol
Cyclodextrin
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Sucrose, Sorbitol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Gluconolactone, Calcium Gluconate, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Cyclodextrin, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
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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.
Rosa Damascena Flower Extract is from the Damask rose. This ingredient has tonic and masking properties.
This ingredient has tonic properties; tonics are used to remove soap residue. As a masking ingredient, it is used to cover unpleasant smells from other ingredients.
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.
This is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
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!