Sephora Collection Hydrating Cica Express Repair Care Cream Versus Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Intensive Moisturizer
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Undecane
EmollientOryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentPentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTridecane
Perfuming
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Cera
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Propanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, Cocoglycerides, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Undecane, Oryza Sativa Starch, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Zinc PCA, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tridecane, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Chlorphenesin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Polyglycerin-3
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Sucrose Polystearate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Octadecene
SolventAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDextrin
AbsorbentTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, Sucrose Polystearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Methyl Trimethicone, Dibutyl Adipate, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone, Stearyl Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Octadecene, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Dextrin, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide NP, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Tocopherol, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 StearateThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
