Item Beauty Lite Sauce Clean Balancing Gel Moisturizer with Ceramides Versus Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream

Item Beauty Lite Sauce Clean Balancing Gel Moisturizer with Ceramides Versus Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream

This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Centella Asiatica Extract and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.

This moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Panax Ginseng Root Extract to hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Dipropylene Glycol

Glycerin

Betaine

Butylene Glycol

Dimethicone

Centella Asiatica Extract

1,2-Hexanediol

Xylitol

Tocopherol

Tocopheryl Acetate

Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter

Ceramide NP

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Xanthan Gum

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate

Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer

Carbomer

Silica

Sodium Stearoxy Pg-Hydroxyethylcellulose Sulfonate

Disodium EDTA

Tromethamine

Ethylhexylglycerin

Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Centella Asiatica Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xylitol, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Silica, Sodium Stearoxy Pg-Hydroxyethylcellulose Sulfonate, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin

Alcohol Denat.

Isohexadecane

Hydrogenated Polydecene

PPG-3 Dipivalate

Behenyl Alcohol

Stearyl Alcohol

Myristyl Myristate

Glyceryl Stearate Se

Polysorbate 60

PEG-100 Stearate

PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether

PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether

Phenoxyethanol

Dimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer

CI 77891

Sorbitan Tristearate

Erythritol

Parfum

Alcohol

Aminopropyl Dimethicone

2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Trisodium EDTA

Caffeine

Potassium Hydroxide

Isostearic Acid

Sodium Metaphosphate

Aluminum Hydroxide

Linalool

Sodium Metabisulfite

Limonene

Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate

Angelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract

Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract

Panax Ginseng Root Extract

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

CI 77491

Alpinia Speciosa Leaf Extract

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract

Pyrola Incarnata Extract

Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Betaine, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, PPG-3 Dipivalate, Silica, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polysorbate 60, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, CI 77891, Sorbitan Tristearate, Erythritol, Parfum, Alcohol, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Carbomer, Trisodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Caffeine, Potassium Hydroxide, Isostearic Acid, Sodium Metaphosphate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Linalool, Tocopherol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Limonene, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Angelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, CI 77491, Alpinia Speciosa Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Pyrola Incarnata Extract

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.

Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.

Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.

Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.

Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.

Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

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.

Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.

What it does:

Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:

Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.

Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.

This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.

Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.

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.

We don't have a description for Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate yet.

Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.

Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.

The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.

It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.

In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.

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.

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