Skincyclopedia 5% AHA & PHA Charcoal Mild Peeling Face Serum Versus Biba de Sousa The Plant Stem Cell Serum with Peptides

Skincyclopedia 5% AHA & PHA Charcoal Mild Peeling Face Serum Versus Biba de Sousa The Plant Stem Cell Serum with Peptides

This hydrating serum is formulated around Panthenol and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and calm redness.

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Propylene Glycol

Panthenol

Sodium Hyaluronate

Phenoxyethanol

Hydroxyethylcellulose

1,2-Hexanediol

Caprylyl Glycol

PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether

Water, Propylene Glycol, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38

Leontopodium Alpinum Extract

Ubiquinone

Echinacea Purpurea Leaf/Stem/Meristem Cell Culture Extract

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Tocopherol

Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract

Asparagus Officinalis Stem Extract

Citric Acid

Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Ubiquinone, Echinacea Purpurea Leaf/Stem/Meristem Cell Culture Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Asparagus Officinalis Stem Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.

Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.

Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).

Hydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.

This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.

This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.

Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.

There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.

D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.

Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):

Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.

This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.

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!

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