Photozyme DNA Youth Recovery Facial Serum Versus Neova DNA Total Repair
Updated on May 09, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, oils, parabens or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Photozyme DNA Youth Recovery Facial Serum 23 ingredients
Neova DNA Total Repair 39 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Photozyme DNA Youth Recovery Facial Serum 23 ingredients
Neova DNA Total Repair 39 ingredients
Benefits
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Hordeum Distichon Extract
Skin ProtectingErgothioneine
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSantalum Album Extract
CleansingPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningArabidopsis Thaliana Extract
Antioxidant
Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Micrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Hordeum Distichon Extract, Ergothioneine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Santalum Album Extract, Plankton Extract, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Lecithin, Micrococcus Lysate, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Butyrum
EmollientShea Butter Glyceride
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract
Antioxidant
Eel Extract
HumectantMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningEvodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Squalene
Emollient
Saccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Cassia Alata Leaf Extract
AstringentBuddleja Davidii Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXylitol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Silicate Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
BHT
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Saccharide Isomerate, Butyrum, Shea Butter Glyceride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 60, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ergothioneine, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Eel Extract, Micrococcus Lysate, Plankton Extract, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Squalene, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Buddleja Davidii Leaf Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Panthenol, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Lecithin, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xylitol, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Sodium Silicate Extract, Benzyl Benzoate, BHT, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinErgothioneine is an amino acid found naturally in mushrooms, grains, and meat. It has antioxidant and skin soothing properties.
This amino acid helps with:
- Maintaining DNA stability and cell reproduction
- Enhances cellular immunity
- Skin brightening
- Anti-aging
- Skin soothing
We don't have a description for Plankton Extract yet.
Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract is an antioxidant.
We don't have a description for Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract yet.
Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of phospholipids.
This ingredient has emollient and emulsifying properties.
As an emollient, lecithen helps soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can also help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.
This is because the phospholipids in lecithin produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that feeds fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinWe don't have a description for Micrococcus Lysate yet.
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.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolBHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Photozyme DNA Youth Recovery Facial Serum 23 ingredients
Neova DNA Total Repair 39 ingredients
