Skin science article
Human Nature Ceramide Skin-Renewing Night Cream Versus First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Night Cream
Human Nature Ceramide Skin-Renewing Night Cream Versus First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Night Cream This barrier-repair night moisturizer is formulated around Ceramide NP and Gluconic Acid to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. This anti-agin
Human Nature Ceramide Skin-Renewing Night Cream Versus First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Night Cream
This barrier-repair night moisturizer is formulated around Ceramide NP and Gluconic Acid to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This anti-aging night moisturizer is formulated around Butyrospermum Parkii Butter and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Glycerin
Cetearyl Alcohol
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Isoamyl Laurate
Ceramide NP
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Glyceryl Caprylate
Gluconic Acid
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Sclerotium Gum
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Dicaprylyl Ether
Tocopherol
Citric Acid
Sodium Citrate
Parfum
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Benzoate
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Isoamyl Laurate, Ceramide NP, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glyceryl Caprylate, Gluconic Acid, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Sclerotium Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Ether, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Parfum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Dimethicone
Glyceryl Stearate
C10-18 Triglycerides
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Lactobacillus Ferment
Jojoba Esters
Cetyl Alcohol
Niacinamide
Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera
Algae Extract
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Sodium Hyaluronate
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
Sodium Lactate
Butylene Glycol
PEG-75 Stearate
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Ceteth-20
Steareth-20
Polyglycerin-3
Carbomer
Polysorbate 20
Phenoxyethanol
Xanthan Gum
Tetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Jojoba Esters, Cetyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera, Algae Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Sodium Hyaluronate, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sodium Lactate, Butylene Glycol, PEG-75 Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Polyglycerin-3, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide
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.
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%.
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!