Hada Labo Sensitive Skin Hydrating Cream Versus Watsons Rice Bran & Soy Bean Illuminating Daily Cream
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Panthenol and Ceramide NP to calm redness and hydrate skin.
This brightening day moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Glycine Soja Oil to brighten dull-looking skin and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Orange Roughy Oil
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phytosteryl Oleate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
BHT
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStyrene/Vp Copolymer
Mannitol
Humectant
Ceteareth-20
CleansingFucose
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Erythritol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Urea
Buffering
Trehalose
Humectant
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingChondrus Crispus
Masking
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Glycerophosphoinositol Choline
Skin ProtectingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
Preservative
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pullulan
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingAlgin
Masking
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Viola Yedoensis Extract
Skin ConditioningTaraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Phosphate
BufferingAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Orange Roughy Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Arachidyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Panthenol, Cetyl Alcohol, Phytosteryl Oleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Triethanolamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Arachidyl Glucoside, Propanediol, BHT, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Styrene/Vp Copolymer, Mannitol, Ceteareth-20, Fucose, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Bisabolol, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Pentylene Glycol, Hexyldecanol, Sodium PCA, Ceramide NP, Polysorbate 20, Erythritol, Disodium EDTA, Urea, Trehalose, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Chondrus Crispus, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Glycerophosphoinositol Choline, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Beta-Sitosterol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Serine, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Pisum Sativum Extract, Sorbic Acid, Stearic Acid, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Sodium Benzoate, Zinc Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pullulan, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Disodium Phosphate, Algin, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Carbomer, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Viola Yedoensis Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Tocopherol, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Potassium Phosphate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ceramide AP
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantJojoba Esters
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tromethamine
BufferingParfum
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Nut Extract
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Jojoba Esters, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tromethamine, Parfum, Adenosine, Glycine Soja Oil, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Nut Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylic/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 TriglycerideCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
