Alastin Ultra Nourishing Moisturizer Versus Caudalie Premier Cru Anti Aging Cream Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 and Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate Citrate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Potassium Olivoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein
CleansingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingBetaine
Humectant
Polyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
ChelatingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Methicone, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Olivoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Phospholipids, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Oleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycine Soja Sterols, Linoleic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Betaine, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbitan Isostearate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Magnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
ChelatingGleditsia Triacanthos Seed Extract
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Propanediol, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Magnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Adenosine, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Gleditsia Triacanthos Seed Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Parfum, Geraniol, Linalool, Citronellol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl 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).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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.
Learn more about GlycerinPotassium 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.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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!
Learn more about Water
