Clinique Superdefense Night Recovery Moisturizer Versus Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm
Updated on July 20, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe night moisturizers. They have a total of 9 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, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
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
Clinique Superdefense Night Recovery Moisturizer 43 ingredients
Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm 34 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
Clinique Superdefense Night Recovery Moisturizer 43 ingredients
Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm 34 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningSalvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Lactis Proteinum
Skin ConditioningAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Lecithin
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingErgothioneine
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic Colorant
Water, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Jojoba Esters, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Glycerin, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Caffeine, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Micrococcus Lysate, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lactis Proteinum, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Phytosterols, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Lecithin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Glycine Soja Protein, Ergothioneine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trehalose, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Mica
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Linolenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Glyceryl Palmitate
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientVanilla Tahitensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Methyl Gluceth-20, Dimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Linoleate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Bakuchiol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Glyceryl Linolenate, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Palmitate, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Vanilla Tahitensis Fruit Extract, Water
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. 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 WaterGlycerin 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 GlycerinPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
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 DimethiconeGlyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateCaprylyl 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 GlycolSodium 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 HydroxideDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Clinique Superdefense Night Recovery Moisturizer 43 ingredients
Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm 34 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Clinique Superdefense Night Recovery Moisturizer 43 ingredients
Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm 34 ingredients
It's alright and gentle on the skin. For a balm, I was expecting a more thick consistency, but the formula is very light and spreads thin.
I do wake up with a bit of a dry skin in some areas, with this product.
Overall, I don't find it to be amazing and there are better products for sensitive skin for the same price point. It has a slight pleasant fragrance, but that could be what dries the Show more
