Skinfix Barrier+ Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream Versus REN Clean Skincare Clarimatte Balancing Gel Cream
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Skin Conditioning
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Squalene
Emollient
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Amylopectin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Folic Acid
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Acetyl Heptapeptide-4
Humectant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Squalane, Propanediol, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Triheptanoin, Niacinamide, Saccharide Isomerate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Squalene, Zinc PCA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Allantoin, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosterols, Acetyl Glutamine, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Amylopectin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Folic Acid, Oligopeptide-3, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Oligopeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2, Hexapeptide-11, Tocopherol, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Lactic Acid, Glucose, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Lauryl Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Oryzanol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder
Abrasive
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Pueraria Lobata Symbiosome Extract
Antioxidant
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cassia Alata Leaf Extract
AstringentGlucose
Humectant
Crataegus Oxyacantha Stem Extract
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Callitris Intratropica Wood Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingLactoperoxidase
StabilisingGlucose Oxidase
StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Lauryl Laurate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tapioca Starch, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Oryzanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, Carbomer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Tocopherol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Pueraria Lobata Symbiosome Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Glucose, Crataegus Oxyacantha Stem Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Callitris Intratropica Wood Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Lactobacillus, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Sodium Chloride, Lactoperoxidase, Glucose Oxidase, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Tocopherol 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 Water
