Hwarang' Bellflower Moisturizing Barrier Cream Versus The INKEY List Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturizer
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthenol to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Butyrospermum Parkii Butter and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Squalane
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Vinyldimethicone
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Platycodon Grandiflorus Root Extract
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingArginine
Masking
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningC18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Polyglyceryl-10 Dilaurate
Surfactant
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningC12-18 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Squalene
Emollient
Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningViola Mandshurica Flower Extract
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, C14-22 Alcohols, Squalane, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Vinyldimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Panthenol, Ectoin, Polyglutamic Acid, Guaiazulene, Platycodon Grandiflorus Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Arginine, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Trehalose, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Adenosine, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Jojoba Esters, Disodium EDTA, Polyglyceryl-10 Dilaurate, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, C12-18 Acid Triglyceride, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Squalene, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Betaine, Beta-Glucan, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Phytosterols, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPropanediol
Solvent
Polysilicone-11
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate-13
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Laureth-12
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Propanediol, Polysilicone-11, C10-18 Triglycerides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Ceramide NP, Polyacrylate-13, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Laureth-12, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
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 ButterCaprylic/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 TriglycerideCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
