Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Vitamin C Lactic Creamy Cleansing Oil Versus CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Isohexadecane
EmollientDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Colloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Metasilicate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sorbitan Oleate, Isohexadecane, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Lactic Acid, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Squalane, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Colloidal Oatmeal, Sphingolipids, Phospholipids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Lecithin, Silica, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Sorbitan Stearate, Potassium Hydroxide, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Metasilicate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Dipotassium Phosphate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium 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
