Provence Beauty Vitamin E + Salicylic Acid Clarifying Serum Shot Versus artnaturals Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Provence Beauty Vitamin E + Salicylic Acid Clarifying Serum Shot Versus artnaturals Hyaluronic Acid Serum

This acne serum is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Glycolic Acid to clear breakouts and refine skin texture.

This hydrating serum is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate to hydrate skin and calm redness.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Salicylic Acid

Glycolic Acid

Tocopheryl Acetate

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract

Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Pentylene Glycol

Polysorbate 20

Phenoxyethanol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Juniperus Oxycedrus Wood Oil

Water, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Juniperus Oxycedrus Wood Oil

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Phenethyl Alcohol

Caprylyl Glycol

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Xanthan Gum

Citrus Limon Fruit Oil

Sodium Hyaluronate

Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Glycine Soja Protein

Hydrolyzed Rice Protein

Superoxide Dismutase

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Limon Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Protein, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Superoxide Dismutase, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate

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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.

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

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.

Tocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.

Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.

It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.

One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.

Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.

Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.

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.

Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.

The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.

Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.

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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