Simple Skincare Kind To Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser Versus ELFORMULA Intensive CeraHydro Moisturizer Barrier
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthenol to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Ectoin and Centella Asiatica Extract to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethicone
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Pantolactone
HumectantBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientPotassium Carbonate
BufferingBisabolol
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningUrea
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Lactate
BufferingSerine
MaskingSorbitol
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Cetyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Pantolactone, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Potassium Carbonate, Bisabolol, Pentylene Glycol, Urea, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Serine, Sorbitol, Sodium Chloride, Allantoin
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingIsododecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDiglycerin
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingEctoin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingBisabolol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPropanediol
SolventGlucose
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingCholesterol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Diglycerin, Carbomer, Polysorbate 80, Triethanolamine, Ectoin, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Polyglutamate, Sorbitan Oleate, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Propanediol, Glucose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root 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.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololCarbomer 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 CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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