Dear Me Beauty Skin Barrier Water Cream Improved Formula Versus Skintific 5x Ceramide Barrier Repair Moisturize Gel
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Silica
AbrasiveSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cyclohexasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Chloride, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Betaine, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Silica, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Allantoin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPoly 1,2-Butanediol-6 Propylene Glycol
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPEG-400
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPCA
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicTrehalose
HumectantEctoin
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
AntioxidantOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningYeast Polysaccharides
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 60
EmulsifyingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
MaskingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Medica Peel Oil
Water, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Poly 1,2-Butanediol-6 Propylene Glycol, 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 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 Medica 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.
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 AllantoinButylene 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 GlycolDimethicone 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 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 PanthenolPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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