Dr. Althea 147 Barrier Cream Versus My Dream Skin Ceramide + Niacinamide Barrier Defense And Dark Spot Fader Gel Cream
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Ectoin to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Alpha-Arbutin to strengthen the skin barrier and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientEctoin
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientVinyldimethicone
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantBetaine
HumectantGuaiazulene
AntimicrobialNicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningBetulin
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, C14-22 Alcohols, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Squalane, Ectoin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Vinyldimethicone, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Arachidyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Tocopherol, Betaine, Guaiazulene, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Betulin, Beta-Glucan, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Niacinamide
SmoothingPolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientLeptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
TonicPiper Nigrum Seed Extract
RefreshingMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningCryptomeria Japonica Bud Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
EmollientCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingNiacinamide, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Glycerin, Persea Gratissima Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Saccharide Isomerate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Octyldodecanol, Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, Piper Nigrum Seed Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Alpha-Arbutin, Butylene Glycol, Water, Cryptomeria Japonica Bud Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Ceramide EOP, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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