Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture Versus Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer Sensitive Skin SPF 15
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Butyrospermum Parkii Butter and Sodium Hyaluronate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This calming day moisturizer is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract and Tocopheryl Acetate to calm redness and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlucosamine Hcl
Xylitol
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingTrehalose
Humectant
Magnesium Chloride
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xylitylglucoside, Phenyl Trimethicone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Anhydroxylitol, Isohexadecane, Chlorphenesin, Allantoin, Urea, Xanthan Gum, Glucosamine Hcl, Xylitol, BHT, Bisabolol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinyl Palmitate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Yeast Amino Acids, Betaine, Inositol, Taurine, Trehalose, Magnesium Chloride, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 6%
UV Absorber
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Steareth-21
CleansingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG/PPG-20/20 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Oleth-3 Phosphate
SurfactantBHT
Antioxidant
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 6%, Zinc Oxide, Water, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Steareth-21, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polyacrylamide, Stearyl Alcohol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Behenyl Alcohol, DMDM Hydantoin, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG/PPG-20/20 Dimethicone, Laureth-7, Steareth-2, Disodium EDTA, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Oleth-3 Phosphate, BHT, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.
Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.
Learn more about IsohexadecaneTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
