Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream versus Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light .
Published on November 11, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols and fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
General Moisturizer
All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.
General Moisturizer
All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.
Ingredient Info
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream 18 ingredients
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light 21 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream 18 ingredients
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light 21 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream 18 ingredients
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light 21 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Isocetyl Stearate • Propanediol • Cetearyl Alcohol • Alcohol Denat. • Cetyl Esters • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Pentylene Glycol • Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate • Mannose • Sodium Polyacrylate • Sodium PCA • Salicylic Acid • Sodium Hyaluronate • Caprylyl Glycol • Citric Acid • Parfum
Water • Glycerin • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Alcohol Denat. • Propanediol • Isopropyl Palmitate • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • Zea Mays Starch • Mannose • Glyceryl Isostearate • Cetearyl Alcohol • Cetearyl Glucoside • Sodium PCA • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sodium Hydroxide • P-Anisic Acid • Caprylyl Glycol • Citric Acid • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Parfum
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. 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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterVichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream contains this as ingredient number 1.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light contains this as ingredient number 1.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinVichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream contains this as ingredient number 2.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light contains this as ingredient number 2.
Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.
It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolVichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream contains this as ingredient number 4.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light contains this as ingredient number 5.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholVichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream contains this as ingredient number 5.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light contains this as ingredient number 12.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol and other additives. It has a low molecular weight and will evaporate quickly. This helps other ingredients become better absorbed and dry once applied.
Alcohol Denat. is volatile and may cause irritation. It helps draw out natural oils in skin and dry out your skin.
One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased irritation.
Alcohol is antibacterial by nature. This can help preserve products and increase their shelf life.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream contains this as ingredient number 6.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light contains this as ingredient number 4.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter is a plant lipid from the fruit of the Shea Tree. It is an effective skin hydrator and emollient.
Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. It does this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Shea butter is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may harm the body. It is also full of fatty acids including stearic acid and linoleic acid. These acids help replenish the skin and keep skin moisturized.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
Shea butter may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterVichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream contains this as ingredient number 8.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light contains this as ingredient number 7.
We don't have a description for Mannose.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream contains this as ingredient number 11.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light contains this as ingredient number 10.
Sodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid and is naturally occurring on human skin.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
Sodium PCA is a has conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAVichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream contains this as ingredient number 13.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light contains this as ingredient number 14.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateVichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream contains this as ingredient number 15.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light contains this as ingredient number 15.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolVichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream contains this as ingredient number 16.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light contains this as ingredient number 18.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidVichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream contains this as ingredient number 17.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light contains this as ingredient number 19.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumVichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream contains this as ingredient number 18.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light contains this as ingredient number 21.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream 18 ingredients
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light 21 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream 18 ingredients
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light 21 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream 18 ingredients
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light 21 ingredients
Hubayobi
Expensive. It’s not very light as it says. But I have combination skin and in the winter its pretty good. Doesn’t absorb very well. A bit of smell.
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