CosMD Ultra-Light Hydrating Oil-Free Moisturizing Gel Versus Anua Rice 7 Ceramide Hydrating Barrier Serum
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Panthenol and Bifida Ferment Lysate to calm redness and hydrate skin.
This hydrating serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Oryza Sativa Extract to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Trehalose
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose
Absorbent
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Betaine, Propanediol, Trehalose, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Ethylhexylglycerin, Beta-Glucan, Cellulose, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Angelica Keiskei Extract
Antioxidant
Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Defatted Rice Bran Extract
Antioxidant
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantDefatted Rice Bran
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran
Abrasive
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Seed Protein
Antioxidant
Honey Extract
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Water, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-10, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carbomer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-51, Adenosine, Allantoin, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alpha-Arbutin, Angelica Keiskei Extract, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, Tocopherol, Defatted Rice Bran Extract, Arbutin, Zinc Stearate, Defatted Rice Bran, Oryza Sativa Bran, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Oryza Sativa Seed Protein, Honey Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinBeta-Glucan is a soluble polysaccharide (a chain of glucose sugars) sourced from the cells walls of oats, baker's yeast, mushrooms, and seaweed.
It's a rare ingredient that pulls double-duty as a heavy-duty hydrator and skin-soothing repair agent.
On the surface, it acts as a humectant that holds water in place and reduces moisture loss for a plumper, smoother feel, while its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it a great pick for calming redness or sensitive skin
The more interesting story is underneath:
Despite its large molecular size, oat beta-glucan has been shown to penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis by slipping between skin cells. Here, it interacts with fibroblasts and macrophages to nudge collagen synthesis and support wound repair.
A small 2005 split-face clinical study of 27 subjects found topical beta-glucan produced measurable reductions in wrinkle depth, height, and roughness after 8 weeks of use.
It is worth noting the trial was small and the penetration testing used frozen, irradiated skin so the anti-aging data is encouraging rather than definitive.
This ingredient gets along with pretty much everything and is typically used around 0.1-1%.
Fungal acne: This ingredient is not a food source for the Malassezia yeast because it is a glucose polysaccharide with no fatty acid or ester component.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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
