Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Face Cream for Dry Skin Versus Q + A Collagen Face Cream

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Face Cream for Dry Skin Versus Q + A Collagen Face Cream

This moisturizer is formulated around Avena Sativa Kernel Flour to smooth texture.

This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Tripeptide-29 to soften the look of wrinkles.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Dicaprylyl Ether

Stearic Acid

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Cetyl Alcohol

Avena Sativa Kernel Flour

Cetearyl Alcohol

Dimethicone

Phenoxyethanol

Carbomer

Caprylyl Glycol

Ceteareth-20

Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium Citrate

Citric Acid

Water, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Stearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Glyceryl Stearate

Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter

Cera Alba

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Sucrose Stearate

Collagen

Tripeptide-29

Lactic Acid

Magnesium PCA

Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract

Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract

Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

Olea Europaea Fruit Oil

Coco-Glucoside

Benzyl Alcohol

Coconut Alcohol

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder

Tocopherol

Dehydroacetic Acid

Sodium Hyaluronate

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Xanthan Gum

Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cera Alba, Glycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sucrose Stearate, Collagen, Tripeptide-29, Lactic Acid, Magnesium PCA, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Benzyl Alcohol, Coconut Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.

Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.

However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.

Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.

In skincare formulas, citric acid can:

While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.

Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.

Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.

However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.

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.

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. Remember to stay hydrated!

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