The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides Versus Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Linoleic Acid and Urea to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil and Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil to calm redness and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Isostearate
EmulsifyingIsosorbide Dicaprylate
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPhytosteryl Canola Glycerides
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingArginine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Glutamic Acid
HumectantLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantMaltose
MaskingFructose
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantPCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingUrea
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLecithin
EmollientTriolein
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Glycosphingolipids, Glycolipids, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Arginine, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Proline, Threonine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Betaine, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Glucose, Maltose, Fructose, Trehalose, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Triolein, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientLanolin
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCera Alba
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantLimonene
PerfumingViola Tricolor Extract
EmollientHydrolyzed Beeswax
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingArginine
MaskingZinc Sulfate
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingWater, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lanolin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cera Alba, Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Glycerin, Limonene, Viola Tricolor Extract, Hydrolyzed Beeswax, Sorbitan Olivate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Arginine, Zinc Sulfate, Parfum, Linalool, Geraniol, Citral, Coumarin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineGlycerin (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