First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Body Lotion Versus La Roche-Posay Lipikar Daily Repair Moisturizing Lotion
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Colloidal Oatmeal 0.5%
AbsorbentWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialStearic Acid
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientSqualane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientChrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingColloidal Oatmeal 0.5%, Water, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Stearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Disodium EDTA, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPoloxamer 338
EmulsifyingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sucrose Cocoate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingCetyl Palmitate
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Sorbitan Stearate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Niacinamide, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dimethicone, Beeswax, Sorbitan Tristearate, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Poloxamer 338, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Sucrose Cocoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, T-Butyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, BHT, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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