The Outset Firming Vegan Collagen Prep Serum Versus Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Hyaluronate Serum

The Outset Firming Vegan Collagen Prep Serum Versus Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Hyaluronate Serum

This serum is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to brighten and minimize pores.

This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters and Squalene to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Propanediol

Glycerin

Triheptanoin

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer

Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Heterotheca Inuloides Flower Extract

Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract

Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract

Hydrolyzed Brassica Napus Seedcake Extract

Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1

Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer

Diheptyl Succinate

Phenoxyethanol

Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer

Caprylyl Glycol

Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters

Lysolecithin

Sclerotium Gum

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Tocopheryl Acetate

Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate

Pullulan

Xanthan Gum

Jojoba Esters

Silica

Citric Acid

Sodium Benzoate

Sodium Formate

Sodium Glycolate

Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium PCA

Potassium Hydroxide

Potassium Sorbate

Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Triheptanoin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Heterotheca Inuloides Flower Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Brassica Napus Seedcake Extract, Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Diheptyl Succinate, Phenoxyethanol, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Jojoba Esters, Silica, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Formate, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium PCA, Potassium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate

Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters

Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11

Glycine Soja Seed Extract

Oryza Sativa Bran Extract

Squalene

Sodium Hyaluronate

Tocopherol

Phytosteryl Macadamiate

Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract

Gluconolactone

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Phytosterols

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Helianthus Annuus Extract

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Chondrus Crispus Extract

Ethylhexylglycerin

Water, Propanediol, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Squalene, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Gluconolactone, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phytosterols, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol

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.

Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.

Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.

However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.

Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.

In skincare formulas, citric acid can:

While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.

Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.

Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.

However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.

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.

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.

Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.

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 Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

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.

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