French Girl Organics Barrier Restore Hydration Cream - Néroli Crème Fraîche Versus Purity Woods Age-Defying Dream Cream
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Rosa Damascena Flower Water to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Butyrospermum Parkii Butter to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Emulsifying Wax
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Garcinia Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Water
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Achillea Millefolium Oil
Cleansing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel, Glycerin, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Emulsifying Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Garcinia Indica Seed Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Water, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Achillea Millefolium Oil
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Acer Rubrum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningMalva Sylvestris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Potassium Sunflowerseedate
CleansingTapioca Starch
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Cera Alba
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glycerin, Astaxanthin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Acer Rubrum Leaf Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Malva Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Alcohol Denat., Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Potassium Sunflowerseedate, Tapioca Starch, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Cera Alba, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is the filtered, stabilized liquid pressed from the inner gel of the aloe vera leaf.
In cosmetics, it shows up as either soothing active or a water-replacement base. It is roughly 98-99% water and the last 1-2% is an interesting mix of polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.
The polysaccharides do most of the work: they bind water at the skin surface for a light, non-greasy hydration boost. And one of the polysaccharides, glycomannan, is linked to fibroblast stimulation + collagen synthesis. This is also why aloe has such a long track record in wound and burn healing.
This ingredient is also calming with anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity, making it a great pick for sensitive, irritated, or post-sun skin.
Realistic expectations matter though; the solid evidence is mostly limited to hydration, soothing, and wound support. Deeper claims about anti-aging or sun protection are not well backed, and science reviews note it does not prevent radiation-induced skin injury.
Because it plays well with almost everything, it's commonly used as a base alongside other actives like niacinamide or vitamin C.
Typical usage concentrations range from 0.5% (where hydration benefits already show up) all the way to 90%+ (where it replaces water as the main base).
The safety for this ingredient is well-establish as well. Overall, this is a great supporting ingredient for those who want a boost in hydration.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceThis 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 ButterChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract comes from the Chamomile flower.
Chamomile is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Several compounds found in chamomile help with soothing, such as bisbolol.
Antioxidant components in chamomile make it an effective ingredient to help slow the signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, or molecules that may damage your skin.
Essential oils from chamomile have been found to improve wound healing due to its antimicrobial properties.
Ancient Greeks and Egyptians used Chamomile to treat skin redness and dryness. Chamomile has also been used to help treat stomach issues.
Learn more about Chamomilla Recutita Flower ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilThough this ingredient might sound like a juicy fruit extract, it's actually the fat pressed from the mango seed kernel (or the pit).
In skincare, it behaves more like shea butter and cocoa butter than like a plant active.
The fatty acid makeup of mango seed butter makes it special; it's typically rich in stearic acid and oleic acid, with small amounts of palmitic and linoleic acid.
This combo helps it melt on skin, feel creamy, and leave behind a protective "seal" that slows down water loss.
It also contains a small amount of "extras" like tocopherols (vitamin E) and phytosterols, which are often used to support skin soothing.
Due to its fatty acid content (like oleic acid), this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. In vitro studies have shown that Oleic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
Learn more about Mangifera Indica Seed ButterTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter comes from the Theobroma cacoa, or Cacao tree. Cacao trees are native to tropical landscapes.
Like other plant butters, Cacao seed butter is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. By creating a barrier to trap moisture in, emollients help keep your skin hydrated.
Cacao seed butter contains antioxidants known as polyphenols. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules by stabilizing them. Unstable free-radicals may cause damage to your skin cells. Antioxidants may help with anti-aging.
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter can be bad for acne prone skin.
Learn more about Theobroma Cacao Seed ButterXanthan 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
