Botanics Simply Calm Hydrating Face Cream For Stressed Skin Versus Kiehl's Ultra Facial Deep Moisture Balm
Updated on June 23, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain common allergens, fragrances and oils
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
Botanics Simply Calm Hydrating Face Cream For Stressed Skin 33 ingredients
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Deep Moisture Balm 26 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
Botanics Simply Calm Hydrating Face Cream For Stressed Skin 33 ingredients
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Deep Moisture Balm 26 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Hyssopus Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Panthenol, Carbomer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Limonene, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Hyssopus Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Mannose
HumectantPEG-100 Stearate
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientSorbic Acid
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceramide 3
Skin Conditioning
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Squalane, Cetyl Alcohol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Mannose, PEG-100 Stearate, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Stearyl Alcohol, Ceramide 3, Myristyl Alcohol, Adenosine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter is a plant lipid from the fruit of the Shea Tree. It is an effective skin hydrator and emollient.
Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. It does this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Shea butter is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may harm the body. It is also full of fatty acids including stearic acid and linoleic acid. These acids help replenish the skin and keep skin moisturized.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
Shea butter may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholEthylhexyl Palmitate is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid. It is a fatty acid ester.
The fatty acid content of Ethylhexyl Palmitate makes it an emollient. Emollients help soften and hydrate your skin by trapping moisture within.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate is also used to help improve the texture of cosmetics. It helps other ingredient dissolve in products and help disperse ingredients more evenly.
You'll likely find this ingredient in sunscreen, as it is often used to mix UV-blocking ingredients such as avobenzone and ethylhexyl triazone.
It can also help stabilize the fragrances in a product as a fragrance fixative.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate can be used to substitute mineral oil.
Due to its high fatty acid content, it may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateGlycerin 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 GlycerinLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPhenoxyethanol 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.
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.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterIngredient Ratings
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