Mecca Cosmetica NIGHT DUTY Hydrating Overnight Jelly Mask Versus Tia’m Snail & Azulene Calmfort Cream
This hydrating overnight mask is formulated around Ceramide NP and Panthenol to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Snail Secretion Filtrate and Panthenol to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ceramide NP, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Niacinamide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 20, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Dimethiconol, Phenoxyethanol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol
Snail Secretion Filtrate 92%
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthyl Hexanediol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
SurfactantSnail Secretion Filtrate 92%, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Betaine, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Ethyl Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Arginine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Water, Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
