Cien Aqua Creme Gel Versus BIOTHERM Aquasource Gel
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glucoside
CleansingDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Malic Acid
Buffering
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panicum Miliaceum Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Chlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment
Skin ConditioningPectin
Emulsion StabilisingCitronellol
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tannic Acid
AstringentCI 42051
Cosmetic ColorantPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Sulfate
Water, Glycerin, Dibutyl Adipate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coco-Caprylate, Disodium EDTA, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Parfum, Dimethicone, Sodium Hydroxide, Allantoin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glucoside, Dehydroacetic Acid, Malic Acid, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Panicum Miliaceum Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Chlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment, Pectin, Citronellol, Tocopherol, Tannic Acid, CI 42051, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Sulfate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Nasturtium Officinale Extract
Perfuming
C12-13 Pareth-23
CleansingC12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDivinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Vitreoscilla Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMenthoxypropanediol
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Ceramide NP, Carbomer, Zinc Gluconate, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Cholesterol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Menthoxypropanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, BHT, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, CI 19140, CI 42090, Linalool, Limonene, Citral, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
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.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol (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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
