Biologique Recherche Crème Splendide Toning Face Cream Versus Biologique Recherche Emulsion Gel Biosensible S.R. Soothing and Sebo-Regulating Gel for the Face

Biologique Recherche Crème Splendide Toning Face Cream Versus Biologique Recherche Emulsion Gel Biosensible S.R. Soothing and Sebo-Regulating Gel for the Face

This smoothing moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Ascorbyl Glucoside to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.

This calming moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to calm redness and balance excess oil.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Propylene Glycol

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Glycerin

Cetyl Alcohol

Sucrose Polystearate

Jojoba Esters

1,2-Hexanediol

Niacinamide

Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax

Betula Alba Bark Extract

Equisetum Arvense Extract

Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract

Fucus Vesiculosus Extract

Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract

Terminalia Catappa Leaf Extract

Yeast Extract

Rhizobian Gum

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Tannic Acid

Sodium Hyaluronate

Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax

Tocopherol

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Pvp

Polyglycerin-3

Caprylyl Glycol

Phenoxyethanol

Chlorphenesin

Water, Propylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Sucrose Polystearate, Jojoba Esters, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Terminalia Catappa Leaf Extract, Yeast Extract, Rhizobian Gum, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tannic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Tocopherol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Pvp, Polyglycerin-3, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

Butylene Glycol

Squalane

Isocetyl Stearate

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil

Sodium Polyacrylate

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract

Pentylene Glycol

Biosaccharide Gum-2

Ethylhexylglycerin

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Biosaccharide Gum-1

Alteromonas Ferment Extract

Citric Acid

Xanthan Gum

Maltodextrin

Orthosiphon Stamineus Extract

Oleanolic Acid

Acetyl Hexapeptide-49

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, Isocetyl Stearate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Propylene Glycol, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pvp, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Tannic Acid, Rhizobian Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Terminalia Catappa Leaf Extract, Maltodextrin, Orthosiphon Stamineus Extract, Tocopherol, Oleanolic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-49

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.

Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.

Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.

Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.

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.

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.

Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.

As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.

The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.

True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).

It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.

Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.

Pvp is a water-soluble synthetic polymer and common hairstyling ingredient. It is a film-forming ingredient and used to "hold" specific shapes of hair.

In cosmetics, PVP helps products like sunscreens and color cosmetics last longer and wear more evenly.

It is less effective in high-humidity. It tends to draw moisture, but this moisture dismantles the structure and "hold".

PVP is generally well tolerated on skin and toxicity studies are negative for dermal irritation.

We don't have a description for Rhizobian Gum yet.

Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract comes from the European Elder Tree. It's a polyphenol-rich extract that give it antioxidant, skin soothing, and tonic properties.

In-vitro studies show elder extracts can inhibit collagenase (or the enzyme that degrades collagen), including the ones triggered by UV damage from the sun.

This ingredient is generally well-tolerated unless you have a known elder or Adoxaceae allergy.

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.

Tannic Acid is a type of polyphenol. Its chemical structure makes it a weak acid. Woods such as oak, walnut, and mahogany naturally contain tannic acid.

Polyphenols are potent antioxidants and may protect our skin against the signs of aging.

Studies show tannic acid may have help reduce photoaging. However, further studies are needed.

We don't have a description for Terminalia Catappa Leaf Extract yet.

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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