Lancôme Hydra Zen Anti-Stress Moisturising Face Cream Versus Lancôme Hydra Zen Anti-Stress Glow Moisturiser
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine and Sodium Hyaluronate to calm redness and hydrate skin.
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Butyrospermum Parkii Butter and Squalane to calm redness and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
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 FormingSodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Eugenol
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
Emollient
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Rosa Gallica Flower Extract
AstringentMethylparaben
Preservative
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Parfum
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, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, PEG-100 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 NP, Disodium EDTA, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Methylparaben, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Octyldodecanol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Beheneth-10
EmulsifyingSqualane
Emollient
Glycol Palmitate
Emulsifying
PCA
Humectant
Alanine
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPhenylalanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Valine
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMenthol
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
Masking
Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil
Masking
Sorbitol
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Threonine
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosa Gallica Flower Extract
AstringentHistidine
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Dextran
Glycine
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Beheneth-10, Squalane, Glycol Palmitate, PCA, Alanine, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Tocopherol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Phenylalanine, Arginine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Valine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Xanthan Gum, Menthol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Propylene Glycol, Proline, Isoleucine, Aspartic Acid, Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil, Sorbitol, Serine, Threonine, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Histidine, Citric Acid, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Dextran, Glycine, Parfum
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 TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract comes Peony plant. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Emerging studies also show peony root may help reduce hyperpigmentation.
Ancient Chinese medicine has used peony root to treat dark spots, but studies are looking into this claim more.
Learn more about Paeonia Suffruticosa Root ExtractParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumThis ingredient is also known as the Gallic Rose or French Rose.
Sodium 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
