Pacifica Vegan Collagen Overnight Recovery Cream Versus Clinique Superdefense Broad Spectrum SPF 25 Fatigue + 1st Signs Of Age Multi-Correcting Cream
This night moisturizer is formulated around Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil to hydrate skin.
This anti-aging day moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Resveratrol to soften the look of wrinkles and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1
Humectant
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Arnica Montana Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1, Cetyl Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Arnica Montana Extract, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyester-8
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Petrolatum
Emollient
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Trehalose
Humectant
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract
AstringentVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentResveratrol
Antioxidant
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentAcetyl Carnitine Hcl
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantCreatine
Skin ConditioningSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingArabidopsis Thaliana Extract
Antioxidant
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningErgothioneine
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientPEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingDimethiconol
Emollient
Sodium Rna
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Sea Whip Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol Caprylate
Skin ConditioningPhytic Acid
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Homosalate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Dimethicone, Polyester-8, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Butylene Glycol, Petrolatum, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Trehalose, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Resveratrol, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Acetyl Carnitine Hcl, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Salicylic Acid, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Creatine, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Adenosine Phosphate, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Plankton Extract, Isohexadecane, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caffeine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Algae Extract, Micrococcus Lysate, Ergothioneine, Sodium Hyaluronate, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Caprylyl Glycol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, PEG-8 Laurate, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Polyethylene, Faex Extract, Tromethamine, Dimethiconol, Sodium Rna, Polysorbate 80, Lecithin, Sea Whip Extract, Xanthan Gum, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Propylene Glycol Caprylate, Phytic Acid, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolTocopheryl 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
