Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of EltaMD, Inc Barrier Renewal Complex versus EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer .
Published on March 05, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any oils, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Night Moisturizer
Night Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin overnight.
General Moisturizer
All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.
Ingredient Info
EltaMD, Inc Barrier Renewal Complex 44 ingredients
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer 30 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
EltaMD, Inc Barrier Renewal Complex 44 ingredients
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer 30 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
This product contains 9 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
EltaMD, Inc Barrier Renewal Complex 44 ingredients
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer 30 ingredients
Water • Ethylhexyl Isononanoate • Niacinamide • Glycerin • Glyceryl Stearate • Peg-100 Stearate • Dimethicone • Ceramide NP • Cholesterol • Ceramide Eos • Cetyl Alcohol • Ceramide Ns • Ceteareth-25 • Ceramide EOP • Caprooyl Sphingosine • Caprooyl Phytosphingosine • Ceramide AP • Hyaluronic Acid • 2-Hydroxyethyl Acrylate • Xylitylglucoside • Squalane • Anhydroxylitol • Peg-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether • Polyisobutene • Piptadenia Colubrina Peel Extract • Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract • Bromelain • Tocopherol • Xylitol • Ficin • Glutamine • Biotin • Proline • Behenic Acid • Carbomer • Citric Acid • Sodium Hydroxide • Butylene Glycol • Benzyl Alcohol • Potassium Sorbate • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexyl Palmitate • Sodium Bisulfite • Disodium EDTA
Water • Glycerin • Isododecane • Propanediol • Polymethylsilsesquioxane • Squalane • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Panthenol • Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract • Cetyl Alcohol • Dimethicone • Polysorbate 20 • Sucrose Stearate • Phenoxyethanol • Sea Water • Taurine • Xanthan Gum • Behenyl Behenate • Arginine • Tribehenin • Caprylyl Glycol • Chlorphenesin • Tocopherol • Tocopheryl Acetate • Sodium Sulfite • Disodium EDTA • Citric Acid • Sodium Hydroxide • Sodium Hyaluronate • Glycine
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterEltaMD, Inc Barrier Renewal Complex contains this as ingredient number 1.
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 1.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinEltaMD, Inc Barrier Renewal Complex contains this as ingredient number 4.
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 2.
Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.
Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.
EltaMD, Inc Barrier Renewal Complex contains this as ingredient number 7.
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 11.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Cetyl Alcohol is not related to SD alcohol, denatured alcohol, or ethyl alcohol. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Its main roles are:
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholEltaMD, Inc Barrier Renewal Complex contains this as ingredient number 11.
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 10.
Squalane is an emollient that helps the skin hold onto moisture. It's an oily liquid that occurs naturally in certain types of fish and plant oils.
Because squalane boosts hydration in the skin, it also comes with plenty of benefits: it is an antioxidant and can help fight free radicals and skin damage. Squalane is also found to have a detoxifying effect when applied.
Squalane comes from squalene, which occurs naturally within the sebum of our skin. It is one of the oils our skin produces to keep itself hydrated. Squalane is the hydrogenated version of squalene and has a longer shelf life.
Research shows that squalane is non-irritating (even at 100% concentration).
In general, it's a fantastic ingredient. It does a great job at hydrating the skin, and it's suitable for those with sensitive skin.
The source of squalane may impact malassezia / fungal acne. This is because olive oil derived squalane can contain impurities such as fatty acids and plant waxes. Sugarcane derived squalane is recommended for anyone with malassezia concerns.
Is squalane vegan? This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Learn more about SqualaneEltaMD, Inc Barrier Renewal Complex contains this as ingredient number 21.
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 6.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolEltaMD, Inc Barrier Renewal Complex contains this as ingredient number 28.
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 23.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEltaMD, Inc Barrier Renewal Complex contains this as ingredient number 36.
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 27.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideEltaMD, Inc Barrier Renewal Complex contains this as ingredient number 37.
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 28.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.
EltaMD, Inc Barrier Renewal Complex contains this as ingredient number 41.
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 14.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEltaMD, Inc Barrier Renewal Complex contains this as ingredient number 44.
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 26.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
EltaMD, Inc Barrier Renewal Complex 44 ingredients
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer 30 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
EltaMD, Inc Barrier Renewal Complex 44 ingredients
EltaMD, Inc Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer 30 ingredients
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