Zerafite Skin Brightening Barrier Cream Versus Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane
Updated on July 22, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain ceramides and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances and oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Zerafite Skin Brightening Barrier Cream 49 ingredients
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane 35 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Zerafite Skin Brightening Barrier Cream 49 ingredients
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane 35 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Olea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingArtemisia Capillaris Extract
Pentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Dipeptide-51
Skin Conditioning
Pentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Acetylhydroxyprolyl Dipeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientVaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethyl Ether
SolventPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saururus Chinensis Extract
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl Oleate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Beta-Sitosterol, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Pentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Dipeptide-51, Pentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Acetylhydroxyprolyl Dipeptide-12, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethyl Ether, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Beta-Glucan, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Phytosteryl Oleate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Gluconate, Carbomer, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Olea Europaea Leaf
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSucrose Stearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-8 Stearate
Emulsifying
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Squalane, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sucrose Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, PEG-8 Stearate, Myristyl Myristate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Chlorphenesin, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Myristic Acid, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Salicylic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGlycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil comes from the sweet almond, a tree native to Iran. This oil has no fragrance and is non-volatile.
Almonds contain healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. It is a rich source of Vitamin E, a great antioxidant and skin conditioning ingredient. Sweet almond oil contains fatty acids such as linolenic acid and triglycerides.
The content of sweet almond oil makes it a great emollient; it can help soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a barrier over your skin to trap moisture in. Sweet almond oil has antioxidant properties.
Those with an almond allergy should be careful of this ingredient and speak with a professional about using it in your skincare.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis OilStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients.
Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
They are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent alcohols. FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
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 even out skin tone.
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.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidCarbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Zerafite Skin Brightening Barrier Cream 49 ingredients
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane 35 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Zerafite Skin Brightening Barrier Cream 49 ingredients
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane 35 ingredients
a little irritating
It has quickly become a staple in my skincare routine. Absorbs into the skin effortlessly without feeling heavy or greasy. My skin feels incredibly hydrated and soft all day long, I’ve tried other creams, but I always end up coming back to this one!!
