Clef Ocean Elixir Multi-Algae Hydrating Moisturiser Versus Skintific 5x Ceramide Barrier Repair Moisturize Gel
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Codium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCeteareth-12
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Spirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingArginine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Juniperus Virginiana Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Betaine, Trehalose, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Ceteareth-20, Ceteareth-12, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Arginine, Proline, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Oil, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
PEG-400
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
PCA
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Trehalose
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningYeast Polysaccharides
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Masking
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-400, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panthenol, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Carbomer, Allantoin, PCA, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Trehalose, Ectoin, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Yeast Polysaccharides, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 60, T-Butyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPCA is derived from amino acids and is naturally found in our skin's barrier.
As a humectant, PCA helps draw and hold moisture to the skin. Studies show it is effective at helping the skin stay hydrated long-term.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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
