Medik8 C-Tetra Day Cream Versus Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion
This brightening day moisturizer is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Tocopheryl Acetate to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Saccharide Isomerate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Methylpropanediol
SolventCetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Heptyl Undecylenate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Methylpropanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Distarch Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Phenylpropanol, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Citronellol, Linalool, Geraniol, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C13-16 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Citrus Sinensis Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
AstringentLactic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCollagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Copper PCA
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone Crosspolymer-3
Skin Conditioning
Isododecane
EmollientOctadecene
SolventSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-20
CleansingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, C13-16 Isoparaffin, Stearyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Behenate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Citrus Sinensis Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Collagen Amino Acids, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Copper PCA, Isohexadecane, Heptyl Undecylenate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3, Isododecane, Octadecene, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sorbitan Oleate, Ceteareth-20, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/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 TriglycerideWe don't have a description for Heptyl Undecylenate yet.
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
