Dr Sam’s Flawless Moisturiser Intense Versus Avène Cicalfate+ Multi-Protective Skin Repair Cream SPF 50+
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Xylitol
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Panthenol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Cetearyl Olivate, Xylitylglucoside, Squalane, Ectoin, Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Madecassoside, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Lactobacillus Ferment, Anhydroxylitol, Sorbitan Olivate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Benzyl Alcohol, Maltodextrin, Xylitol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Polyglycerin-3, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Phenylene Bis-Diphenyltriazine
Stabilising
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Aquaphilus Dolomiae Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Pantolactone
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether
EmulsifyingCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Phenylene Bis-Diphenyltriazine, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Aquaphilus Dolomiae Ferment Filtrate, Arginine, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Pantolactone, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, CI 17200, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Sulfate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/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 TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePanthenol 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 PanthenolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
