The Derma Co 4% Ceramide Barrier Repair Moisturizer Versus Simple Skincare Water Boost Hydrating Booster
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Ceramide EOP and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This hydrating emulsion is formulated around Saccharide Isomerate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingXylitol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantPhoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract
MoisturisingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Lecithin
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglycerin-3
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningShea Butter Glycerides
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingStearic Acid
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantLigustrum Lucidum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantWater, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Xylitol, Glucose, Anhydroxylitol, Phoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Lecithin, Propylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Glyceryl Stearate, Xylitylglucoside, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Shea Butter Glycerides, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Benzoate, Stearic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Ligustrum Lucidum Seed Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberBHT
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyvinyl Alcohol
Potassium Carbonate
BufferingPotassium Chloride
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Lactate
BufferingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingTrideceth-9
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, PEG-8, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Benzophenone-4, BHT, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Potassium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Hydroxide, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Lactate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Trideceth-9
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 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 PhenoxyethanolWater. 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