Circadia Post Peel Balm Versus IMAGE skincare Biome+ Smoothing Cloud Creme

Circadia Post Peel Balm Versus IMAGE skincare Biome+ Smoothing Cloud Creme

This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalene and Panthenol to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.

This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Vegetable Oil

Squalene

Glycerin

PPG-16

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Carbomer

Royal Jelly

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-22

Allantoin

Panthenol

Tocopheryl Acetate

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Tetrasodium EDTA

Phenoxyethanol

Caprylyl Glycol

Hexylene Glycol

Water, Vegetable Oil, Squalene, Glycerin, PPG-16, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carbomer, Royal Jelly, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-22, Allantoin, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil

Propanediol

Squalane

Pentylene Glycol

Jojoba Esters

Pentaerythrityl Distearate

Sodium Polyacrylate

Cetearyl Alcohol

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Chlorphenesin

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Limonene

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Sorbitan Trioleate

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Tocopherol

Cistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Sodium Hydroxide

Phenylpropanol

Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil

Apium Graveolens Seed Extract

1,2-Hexanediol

Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract

Helianthus Annuus Leaf/Stem Extract

Barosma Betulina Leaf Oil

Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Propanediol, Squalane, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Jojoba Esters, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Chlorphenesin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Carbomer, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Limonene, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sorbitan Trioleate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Cistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenylpropanol, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Apium Graveolens Seed Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus Leaf/Stem Extract, Barosma Betulina Leaf Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.

As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.

It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.

A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.

Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.

In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.

While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.

Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.

This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.

This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.

Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.

Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.

It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.

Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.

A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.

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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