Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance Moisturizer Versus Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream
Updated on September 13, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free general moisturizers. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, sensitive skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances, oils and 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
Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance Moisturizer 38 ingredients
Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream 41 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance Moisturizer 38 ingredients
Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream 41 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Hydroxystearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetyl Caprylate
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-8
HumectantOctyldodecanol
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Echinacea Purpurea Extract
MoisturisingAloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Rosa Centifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Propanediol
SolventTocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetyl Caprylate, Stearic Acid, PEG-8, Octyldodecanol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate Se, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Ceramide NP, Phytosterols, Centella Asiatica Extract, Linoleic Acid, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Palmitic Acid, Myristic Acid, Rosa Centifolia Extract, Lactic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Propanediol, Tocopherol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Hydroxystearic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Lactamide Mea
HumectantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
PEG-100 Stearate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientSambucus Nigra Extract
Skin ConditioningArnica Montana Extract
Skin ConditioningParietaria Officinalis Extract
EmollientNasturtium Officinale Leaf Extract
Masking
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCitrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSilk Amino Acids
HumectantGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyquaternium-10
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Linalool
Perfuming
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Gluceth-20, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Lactamide Mea, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Extract, Arnica Montana Extract, Parietaria Officinalis Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Leaf Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract, Silk Amino Acids, Glycolipids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Lecithin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-10, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 60, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Lavandula Hybrida Oil
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 WaterButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.
As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.
Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.
Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidDimethicone 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 DimethiconePeg-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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholAminomethyl Propanol is used to adjust the pH of products. It is also used as a base to create other organic compounds. Having a balanced pH is important for protecting your skin.
Aminomethyl propanol is safe to use in cosmetics up to 1%. It is soluble in water.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance Moisturizer 38 ingredients
Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream 41 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance Moisturizer 38 ingredients
I’m just not impressed. I bought this because I usually have great luck with Dermalogica products, and I’ve been having some extra dryness lately so I thought this would be a good solution. To be honest it just doesn’t hydrate as well as you would hope for a product that claims to provide “intensive” moisturizing. I don’t really feel like it’s improved anything. I also suspect it’s what is causing Show more
