Skin science article
Clearstem Skincare Hydraglow Stem Cell Moisturizer Versus Face Reality Skincare Cran-Peptide Cream
Clearstem Skincare Hydraglow Stem Cell Moisturizer Versus Face Reality Skincare Cran-Peptide Cream This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Bakuchiol to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin. This anti-aging moisturizer is formulate
Clearstem Skincare Hydraglow Stem Cell Moisturizer Versus Face Reality Skincare Cran-Peptide Cream
This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Bakuchiol to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Squalane
Propanediol
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Glycerin
Cetyl Alcohol
Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract
Bakuchiol
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Hyaluronic Acid
Jojoba Esters
Olibanum
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Sodium Cocoyl/Stearoyl (Alanine/Arginine/Asparagine/Aspartic Acid/Glutamic Acid/Glutamine/Glycine/Histidine/Isoleucine/Leucine/Lysine/Phenylalanine/Proline/Serine/Threonine/Tyrosine/Valine)
Phenylalanine
Argania Spinosa Sprout Cell Extract
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil
Lactobacillus Ferment
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
Thioctic Acid
Lactic Acid
Xanthan Gum
Caprylyl Glycol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Water, Squalane, Propanediol, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Bakuchiol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Olibanum, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Sodium Cocoyl/Stearoyl (Alanine/Arginine/Asparagine/Aspartic Acid/Glutamic Acid/Glutamine/Glycine/Histidine/Isoleucine/Leucine/Lysine/Phenylalanine/Proline/Serine/Threonine/Tyrosine/Valine), Phenylalanine, Argania Spinosa Sprout Cell Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Thioctic Acid, Lactic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Stearyl Alcohol
Cetearyl Olivate
Alcohol Denat.
Sorbitan Olivate
Phenoxyethanol
Tocopheryl Acetate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Totarol
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Methylglucoside Phosphate
Copper Lysinate/Prolinate
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Maltodextrin
Syringa Vulgaris Leaf Cell Culture Extract
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Butylene Glycol
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Alcohol Denat., Sorbitan Olivate, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Totarol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Maltodextrin, Syringa Vulgaris Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Butylene Glycol
Reviews
Be the first to review
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
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!
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.