Anua Heartleaf 70 Daily Lotion Versus Instytutum Regenerating Superbiotic Plant-Based Ceramide Cream
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Beta-Glucan to calm redness and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment and Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Houttuynia Cordata Flower/Leaf/Stem Water
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningFraxinus Rhynchophylla Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
TonicAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Betaine
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Phytate
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHouttuynia Cordata Flower/Leaf/Stem Water, Glycerin, Water, Ethylhexyl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Fraxinus Rhynchophylla Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Methyl Trimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Betaine, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Phytate, Beta-Glucan, Tocopherol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Carbomer
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Decyl Oleate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlbatrellus Confluens Extract
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
Emollient
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPantolactone
Humectant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate, Sorbitan Stearate, Propanediol, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Squalane, Decyl Oleate, Panthenol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Sodium Polyglutamate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract, Albatrellus Confluens Extract, Phospholipids, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Sphingolipids, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Pantolactone, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Citric Acid, Phenylpropanol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Phenethyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Potassium Benzoate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, CI 42090
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTocopherol 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
