Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream Versus Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water and Niacinamide to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Saccharide Isomerate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientVinyldimethicone
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningResveratrol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantMadecassoside
AntioxidantSodium DNA
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTannic Acid
AstringentDisodium EDTA
Sodium Phytate
Water, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Vinyldimethicone, C14-22 Alcohols, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylyl Methicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyquaternium-51, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Beta-Glucan, Resveratrol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Tocopherol, Madecassoside, Sodium DNA, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide NP, Tannic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Phytate
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientC13-16 Isoparaffin
SolventStearyl Dimethicone
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaulerpa Lentillifera Extract
Saccharide Isomerate
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientCitrus Sinensis Fruit Extract
AntioxidantVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
AstringentLactic Acid
BufferingGlycolic Acid
BufferingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCollagen Amino Acids
MoisturisingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantCopper PCA
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone Crosspolymer-3
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientOctadecene
SolventSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingCeteareth-20
CleansingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, C13-16 Isoparaffin, Stearyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Behenate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Citrus Sinensis Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Collagen Amino Acids, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Copper PCA, Isohexadecane, Heptyl Undecylenate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3, Isododecane, Octadecene, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sorbitan Oleate, Ceteareth-20, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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