The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA Versus Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Arginine is an amino acid that is important for human development. Your body uses is it to produce hair keratin and skin collagen.

Aspartic Acid is an amino acid that our bodies produce naturally. It is an antioxidant.

Glycine is an amino acid that helps build proteins. It is already present in our skin as our bodies produce them naturally.

Alanine is an amino acid and is already found in the human body.

Serine is an amino acid naturally found in our body. Our bodies use amino acids to create protein.

We don't have a description for Valine.

We don't have a description for Isoleucine.

Proline is an amino-acid. It helps moisturize the skin and plays an important role in creating proteins.

Threonine is an amino-acid. It helps hydrate the skin and has antioxidant benefits.

We don't have a description for Histidine.

Phenylalanine is an amino acid. It is a skin soothing and hydrating ingredient. Amino acids play a crucial role in wound healing and skin hydration.

Glucose is a simple sugar and is the most important source of energy in all organisms. In skincare, glucose is used to hydrate the skin. It also acts as a prebiotic for our natural biome.

We don't have a description for Maltose.

Fructose is fruit/plant sugar. It can be found in apples, figs, and honey.

Trehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.

Sodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid and is naturally occurring on human skin.

PCA is derived from amino acids and is naturally found in our skin's barrier.

Sodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and used to adjust the pH of a product.

Urea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.

Allantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.

Linoleic Acid is Vitamin F and a fatty acid. It is an emollient and helps thicken texture. Linoleic acid helps with hydrating skin and nourishing the skin's barrier. The top layer of skin, or epidermis, contains high amounts of linoleic acid naturally.

Oleic Acid is an Omega-9 fatty acid. It can be found in many plant oils such as avocado and marula oils.

Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides isn't fungal acne safe.

Palmitic Acid is a fatty acid found in our skin. In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It is a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.

Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.

Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of fatty acids. These fatty acids usually are a mixture of phosphoric acid's choline ester connected to stearic, oleic, and palmitic acids. Most lecithins are created from plant ingredients scuh as sunflower.

Triolein isn't fungal acne safe.

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.

Isoceteth-20 comes from Isocetyl Alcohol. It is an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.

Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.

Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.

Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.

Triethanolamine is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

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.