Skin science article
Dr.G R.E.D Blemish Clear Soothing Cream Versus First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration
Dr.G R.E.D Blemish Clear Soothing Cream Versus First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration This calming moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthenol to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier. This calming moisturizer is formulated
Dr.G R.E.D Blemish Clear Soothing Cream Versus First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthenol to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Colloidal Oatmeal and Squalane to calm redness and hydrate skin.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Glycerin
Butylene Glycol
Dicaprylyl Ether
Niacinamide
1,2-Hexanediol
Hydrogenated Polydecene
Pentylene Glycol
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Vinyldimethicone
Caprylyl Methicone
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Panthenol
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Dimethiconol
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Tromethamine
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Xanthan Gum
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Fructooligosaccharides
Sodium Phytate
Allantoin
Lactobacillus Ferment
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Yeast Ferment Extract
Tocopherol
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Madecassoside
Beta-Glucan
Centella Asiatica Extract
Asiaticoside
Madecassic Acid
Asiatic Acid
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Pentylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Vinyldimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Panthenol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Tromethamine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Sodium Phytate, Allantoin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Yeast Ferment Extract, Tocopherol, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Madecassoside, Beta-Glucan, Centella Asiatica Extract, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid
Colloidal Oatmeal 0.5%
Stearic Acid
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Glyceryl Stearate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Dimethicone
Squalane
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Phenoxyethanol
Caprylyl Glycol
Sodium Hydroxide
Tetrasodium EDTA
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Ceramide NP
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Colloidal Oatmeal 0.5%, Water, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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.
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.