Dr. Sensitive Collagen + Vitamin C Serum Versus Dr. Sensitive Tea Tree & Aloe Vera Pimple Relief Serum Cleanser
Dr. Sensitive Collagen + Vitamin C Serum Versus Dr. Sensitive Tea Tree & Aloe Vera Pimple Relief Serum Cleanser This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Niacinamide to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles. What's insi
Dr. Sensitive Collagen + Vitamin C Serum Versus Dr. Sensitive Tea Tree & Aloe Vera Pimple Relief Serum Cleanser
This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Niacinamide to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Glycerin
Glycereth-26
Propylene Glycol
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Ascorbic Acid
Niacinamide
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Sodium Ethylparaben
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Panthenol
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Phenoxyethanol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Methylparaben
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Parfum
Water, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Propylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Sodium Ethylparaben, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Panthenol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methylparaben, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum
Sodium Cocomonoglyceride Sulfonate
Decyl Glucoside
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Cocamide DEA
Disodium EDTA
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Water, Sodium Cocomonoglyceride Sulfonate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Cocamide DEA, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is a chelating agent that helps cosmetics stay fresh, stable, and consistent over time.
Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted reactions and effects from using the product. It also helps prevent the growth of unwanted microbes in products that contain water.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is often used with natural antimicrobial products as an alternative to preservatives.
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.
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.
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!