Solawave Plumping Peptide Serum Versus EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Serum

Solawave Plumping Peptide Serum Versus EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Serum

This hydrating serum is formulated around Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 and Beta-Glucan to hydrate skin and soften the look of wrinkles.

This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Panthenol and Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Propanediol

Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate

Pentylene Glycol

1,2-Hexanediol

Glycerin

Beta-Glucan

Sparassis Crispa Extract

Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Sodium Hyaluronate

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid

Polyglutamic Acid

Panthenol

Xanthan Gum

Carbomer

Butylene Glycol

Tromethamine

Ethylhexylglycerin

Maltodextrin

Tocopherol

Caprylyl Glycol

Water, Propanediol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Beta-Glucan, Sparassis Crispa Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Polyglutamic Acid, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol

Isododecane

Dimethicone

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Polysilicone-11

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Taurine

Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Arginine

Hydroxyacetophenone

Isohexadecane

Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Coco-Glucoside

Polysorbate 80

Decyl Glucoside

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Citric Acid

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Glycine

Water, Propanediol, Isododecane, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polysilicone-11, Panthenol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Taurine, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Isohexadecane, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coco-Glucoside, Polysorbate 80, Decyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Glycine, Sodium Hyaluronate

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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.

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.

It is a:

Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin

Emollient, helping to soften skin

Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas

Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives

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.

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).

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.

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.

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

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.

Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.

You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.

Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.

It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.

This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.

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.

In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.

Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.

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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