Educational guide
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Face Serum with Hyaluronic Acid Versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Face Serum with Hyaluronic Acid Versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II This hydrating serum is formulated around Panthenol and Madecassoside to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier. This barri
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La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Face Serum with Hyaluronic Acid Versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II
This hydrating serum is formulated around Panthenol and Madecassoside to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Bifida Ferment Lysate to strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Glycerin
Alcohol Denat.
Propylene Glycol
Panthenol
Pentylene Glycol
Dimethicone
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30
Glyceryl Isostearate
Madecassoside
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Disodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Caprylyl Glycol
Citric Acid
Xanthan Gum
Butylene Glycol
Tocopherol
Phenoxyethanol
Parfum
Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Propylene Glycol, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Glyceryl Isostearate, Madecassoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Methyl Gluceth-20
PEG-75
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
Propanediol
Cola Acuminata Seed Extract
Hydrolyzed Algin
Pantethine
Caffeine
Lecithin
Tripeptide-32
Ethylhexylglycerin
Sodium Rna
Bisabolol
Glycereth-26
Squalane
Oleth-3 Phosphate
Lactobacillus Ferment
Oleth-3
Oleth-5
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Faex Extract
Choleth-24
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Ceteth-24
Tocopheryl Acetate
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
Hexylene Glycol
Carbomer
Triethanolamine
Trisodium EDTA
BHT
CI 14700
CI 19140
Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Methyl Gluceth-20, PEG-75, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Cola Acuminata Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Pantethine, Caffeine, Lecithin, Tripeptide-32, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Rna, Bisabolol, Glycereth-26, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Oleth-3, Oleth-5, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Faex Extract, Choleth-24, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceteth-24, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Hexylene Glycol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Trisodium EDTA, BHT, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, CI 14700, CI 19140
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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).
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.
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!
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.