Instytutum Hydrating Hydrafusion 4D HA Water Burst Cream Versus Meisani Niacinamide Cucumber Aqua Gel Cream
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Panthenol to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Ceramide AP to strengthen the skin barrier and balance excess oil.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Undecane
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tridecane
Perfuming
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Algin
Masking
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Magnesium Chloride
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Butylene Glycol, Undecane, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Tridecane, Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sclerotium Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Algin, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Pantolactone, Benzyl Salicylate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citric Acid, Limonene, Citronellol, Magnesium Chloride, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, CI 42090, CI 60730
Water
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Trehalose
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Zinc Oxide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Arginine, Trehalose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Maltodextrin, Carbomer, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
