Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane Versus Lancôme Hydra Zen Anti-Stress Moisturising Face Cream
Updated on February 19, 2024
Overview
Cool Features
They both contain ceramides
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances and silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane 35 ingredients
Lancôme Hydra Zen Anti-Stress Moisturising Face Cream 48 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane 35 ingredients
Lancôme Hydra Zen Anti-Stress Moisturising Face Cream 48 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSucrose Stearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-8 Stearate
Emulsifying
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Squalane, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sucrose Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, PEG-8 Stearate, Myristyl Myristate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Chlorphenesin, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Myristic Acid, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Salicylic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-8 Stearate
Emulsifying
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-15 Stearate
EmulsifyingEugenol
Perfuming
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Triethanolamine
BufferingCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Polyphosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate
Polycaprolactone
StabilisingPolyvinyl Alcohol
Poloxamer 188
EmulsifyingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide 3
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Rosa Gallica Flower Extract
AstringentMethylparaben
Preservative
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Octyldodecanol
EmollientParfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, PEG-8 Stearate, Synthetic Wax, Cyclopentasiloxane, Lecithin, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract, PEG-15 Stearate, Eugenol, Ethylparaben, Triethanolamine, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Palmitic Acid, Silica, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Polyphosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate, Polycaprolactone, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Poloxamer 188, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Dimethiconol, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Ceramide 3, Disodium EDTA, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Methylparaben, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Octyldodecanol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients.
Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
They are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent alcohols. FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholPeg-8 Stearate is an emulsifier and humectant.
This ingredient comes from stearic acid, and the 8 represents the number of ethylene oxide monomers.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-8 StearatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholStearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.
As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.
Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.
Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid found in our skin. In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It is a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
As an emollient, it helps hydrate the skin. The emulsifying properties keep ingredients together in a product.
Palmitic Acid may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidHydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine helps your skin create more ceramides. This ingredient has been shown to boost skin hydration and improve the skin barrier.
Your skin has an outermost layer called the stratum corneum. This is known as your skin barrier.
Your skin barrier consists of cholesterol (25%), free fatty acids (15%), and ceramides (50-60%). A healthy skin barrier is the key to hydrated and plump skin. Your skin is able to retain more moisture with a nourished barrier.
Although small, the skin barrier prevents bacteria and other bad things from going into our bodies. A damaged skin barrier can lead to itchy and dry skin, acne, or bacterial/viral/fungal skin infections.
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine tells your skin to create more ceramides. This helps fortify your skin barrier. Having a strong skin barrier leads to hydrated and healthy skin. More good news? You don't need a high amount of this ingredient to see benefits.
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine is created from a chemical reaction using an amino alcohol (dihydrosphingosine) and a fatty acid palmitic acid (2- 11 bromohexadecanoic acid).
Other ingredients that tell your skin to create more ceramide:
Learn more about Hydroxypalmitoyl SphinganineIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane 35 ingredients
Lancôme Hydra Zen Anti-Stress Moisturising Face Cream 48 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane 35 ingredients
a little irritating
It has quickly become a staple in my skincare routine. Absorbs into the skin effortlessly without feeling heavy or greasy. My skin feels incredibly hydrated and soft all day long, I’ve tried other creams, but I always end up coming back to this one!!
