Wardah Cica Complex+Panthenol Ceramide Calm & Soothe Gel Moisturizer Versus Wardah Acnederm Acne Relief Serum
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Centella Asiatica Extract to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
This acne serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate to clear breakouts and balance excess oil.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningMirabilis Jalapa Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantXylitol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCaprylhydroxamic Acid
ChelatingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingDeoxyphytantriyl Palmitamide Mea
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCholesterol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Saccharide Isomerate, Allantoin, Mirabilis Jalapa Extract, Glycerin, Xylitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Chlorphenesin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Deoxyphytantriyl Palmitamide Mea, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantZinc PCA
HumectantAzelamidopropyl Dimethyl Amine
AntimicrobialSalicylic Acid
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningOxygen
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDimethicone
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningLaureth-23
CleansingLaureth-4
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningIsostearamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingWater, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Trehalose, Zinc PCA, Azelamidopropyl Dimethyl Amine, Salicylic Acid, Allantoin, Oxygen, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Chlorphenesin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Laureth-23, Laureth-4, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-8, Pentylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Isostearamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinAminomethyl Propanol is used to adjust the pH of products. It is also used as a base to create other organic compounds. Having a balanced pH is important for protecting your skin.
Aminomethyl propanol is safe to use in cosmetics up to 1%. It is soluble in water.
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 GlycolChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
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 PropanediolWater. 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