Skin science article
FaceTheory Ectoin Barrierbuild Milk Versus Prequel Half & Half Peptides & Ceramides Fluid Moisturizer
FaceTheory Ectoin Barrierbuild Milk Versus Prequel Half & Half Peptides & Ceramides Fluid Moisturizer This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Ectoin and Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. This barrier-rep
FaceTheory Ectoin Barrierbuild Milk Versus Prequel Half & Half Peptides & Ceramides Fluid Moisturizer
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Ectoin and Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Ceramide NP and Hexapeptide-11 to strengthen the skin barrier and soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
Glycerin
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Ectoin
Maltodextrin
Sodium Levulinate
Glyceryl Caprylate
Tocopherol
Propanediol
Sodium Benzoate
Xanthan Gum
Citrus Limon Peel Powder
Lactobacillus Ferment
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Powder
Sclerotium Gum
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Avena Sativa Meal Extract
Tapioca Starch
Algin
Glyceryl Oleate Citrate
Potassium Sorbate
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Ectoin, Maltodextrin, Sodium Levulinate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol, Propanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Limon Peel Powder, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Powder, Sclerotium Gum, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Tapioca Starch, Algin, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Potassium Sorbate
Isopropyl Myristate
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Squalane
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Ceramide NP
Ceramide As
Ceramide Ns
Ceramide EOP
Ceramide AP
Hexapeptide-11
Matrixyl 3000
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Triolein
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Oleate
Undecane
Hydroxyacetophenone
Glyceryl Dioleate
Caprylyl Glycol
Tridecane
Betaine
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
Citric Acid
Sodium PCA
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium Lactate
PCA
Serine
Alanine
Palmitic Acid
Glycine
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Butylene Glycol
Phenoxyethanol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Glutamic Acid
Lysine Hcl
Threonine
Arginine
Proline
Carbomer
Polysorbate 20
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Isopropyl Myristate, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Squalane, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Hexapeptide-11, Matrixyl 3000, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Triolein, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Oleate, Undecane, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Dioleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Tridecane, Betaine, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Sodium Benzoate, Serine, Alanine, Palmitic Acid, Glycine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20
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Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Sodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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.