Uriage Cica Daily Concentrated Repair Cream Versus Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Face & Body Moisturizing Cream
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantInulin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSafflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Squalane, Dicaprylyl Ether, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Glyceryl Behenate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Inulin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCocoglycerides
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Palm Glycerides
EmollientHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientLecithin
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningP-Anisic Acid
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocoglycerides, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Panthenol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Carbomer, Zea Mays Starch, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, P-Anisic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPotassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol 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