Mary & May Idebenone + Blackberry Complex Intensive Total Care Cream Versus Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm
Updated on July 20, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens or sulfates
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
Mary & May Idebenone + Blackberry Complex Intensive Total Care Cream 45 ingredients
Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm 34 ingredients
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Mary & May Idebenone + Blackberry Complex Intensive Total Care Cream 45 ingredients
Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm 34 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Concerns
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Ingredients Side-by-side
Blackberry extract is rich in antioxidants and Vitamin C. The majority of antioxidants include flavonoid, phenolic, and anthocyanins.
This extract comes from the Cabbage Palm, AKA the Açaí berry! It has skin soothing, antioxidant, and anti-aging properties.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
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.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
1,2-Hexanediol is a multi-tasker ingredient. It acts as a preservative to increase shelf-life and can aid other preservatives in preventing microbe growth. 1,2-Hexanediol also helps the skin retain moisture as a humectant.
6 Benefits
Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
3 Concerns
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid. It is a fatty acid ester.
Cetearyl Olivate is an emulsifier and texture enhancer. It is derived from the fatty acids of olive oil and Cetearyl alcohol, and is biodegradable.
Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It can be found naturally in our skin and hair.
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate is created from the diester of stearic acid and the condensation product of methylglucose and Polyglycerin-3.
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Hydrogenated Lecithin is created from the hydrogenation of lecithin. Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction between molecule hydrogen and another element.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer (let's call it AAVC for short) is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken and improve the texture of products.
Arginine is an amino acid that is important for human development. Your body uses is it to produce hair keratin and skin collagen.
Hydrogenated Polydecene is an emollient. It creates a non-occlusive film on the skin that offers extra protection for your skin barrier.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer is made up of glycerin and polyacrylic acid. It helps hydrate your skin as a humectant.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a type of hyaluronic acid. In fact, it is modified version of hyaluronic acid.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is a form of hyaluronic acid. It is created by the hydrolysis of hyaluronic acid with a high molecular weight. Once created, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid has a low molecular weight.
4 Benefits May cause irritation
Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in healthy skin. It is a humectant, meaning it draws moisture to your skin.
4 Benefits
Ceramide NS is a type of Ceramide. Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.
Phytosphingosine is a phospholipid naturally found in our skin. It helps moisturize, soothe, and protect skin.
Cholesterol is a class of organic molecules called lipids. It helps hydrate your skin and is essential to having a healthy skin barrier.
Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract 21%, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract 21%, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract 21%, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isododecane, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Olivate, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Adenosine, Pentylene Glycol, Trideceth-6, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Stearic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is created from fatty coconut alcohol, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
2 Concerns
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter is a plant lipid from the fruit of the Shea Tree. It is an effective skin hydrator and emollient.
Methyl Gluceth-20 is a humectant. Humectants help draw moisture from the air to your skin.
Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.
A type of fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as traditional alcohols.
Octyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol. It is primarily used to enhance the texture of products.
3 Concerns
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
Peg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate is a synthetic powder used as an absorbent, thickener, and anti-caking agent.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer (let's call it AAVC for short) is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
3 Benefits
Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant (it's vegan!). It is often called the replacement for retinol although it is not part of the same family.
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Not safe for Fungal Acne
This ingredient is the fixed oil extracted from seeds of the desert shrub Jojoba. It is more commonly known as jojoba oil. The seed oil is liquid wax ester from the plant. It is non-comedogenic.
May worsen Eczema
Benzoic Acid is used to preserve and adjust the pH of products.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
Cetearyl Glucoside is a surfactant and emulsifier. It can be produced from synthetic of natural sources of cetearyl alcohol and glucose.
Dimethicone Crosspolymer is a silicone created by modifying dimethicone with hydrocarbon side chains. Due to its large size, it does not penetrate skin. It is considered non-occlusive.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
2 Concerns
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Not safe for Fungal Acne
Glyceryl Oleate is a fragrance and isn't fungal acne safe.
Not safe for Fungal Acne
Glycine Soja Oil comes from the soybean. Glycine Soja is native to eastern Asia.
Helps hydrate Dry Skin 2 Concerns
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil is the oil derived from the seeds of a Sunflower. Sunflower seed oil is non-fragrant. It is an emollient, meaning it helps to soften the skin.
Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
Antioxidant 4 Benefits May cause irritation
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vanilla Tahitensis Fruit Extract comes from the vanilla plant now cultivated in the South Pacific.
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.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Methyl Gluceth-20, Dimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Linoleate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Bakuchiol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Glyceryl Linolenate, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Palmitate, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Vanilla Tahitensis Fruit Extract, Water
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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 WaterCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer (let's call it AAVC for short) is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
AAVC is able to increase the consistency and viscosity of products due to its large molecule size. It also prevents ingredients from separating.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTACaprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Mary & May Idebenone + Blackberry Complex Intensive Total Care Cream 45 ingredients
Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm 34 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Mary & May Idebenone + Blackberry Complex Intensive Total Care Cream 45 ingredients
Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm 34 ingredients
EveliV
It's alright and gentle on the skin. For a balm, I was expecting a more thick consistency, but the formula is very light and spreads thin.
I do...
It's alright and gentle on the skin. For a balm, I was expecting a more thick consistency, but the formula is very light and spreads thin.
I do wake up with a bit of a dry skin in some areas, with this product.
Overall, I don't find it to be amazing and there are better products for sensitive skin for the same price point. It has a slight pleasant fragrance, but that could be what dries the skin out.
