Skin science article
La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Iso-Biome Moisturiser Versus IMAGE skincare Ormedic Balancing Bio-Peptide Crème
La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Iso-Biome Moisturiser Versus IMAGE skincare Ormedic Balancing Bio-Peptide Crème This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Panthenol to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. This calming moisturizer is f
La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Iso-Biome Moisturiser Versus IMAGE skincare Ormedic Balancing Bio-Peptide Crème
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Panthenol to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Panthenol to calm redness and hydrate skin.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Glycerin
Squalane
Dimethicone
Panthenol
Zea Mays Starch
Niacinamide
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Myristyl Myristate
Bixa Orellana Seed Extract
Stearic Acid
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Sodium Hydroxide
Myristic Acid
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Palmitic Acid
Hydroxyacetophenone
Capryloyl Glycine
Caprylyl Glycol
Vitreoscilla Ferment
Citric Acid
Maltodextrin
Xanthan Gum
Parfum
Water, Glycerin, Squalane, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Zea Mays Starch, Niacinamide, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Myristyl Myristate, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Palmitic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Capryloyl Glycine, Caprylyl Glycol, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Parfum
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Water
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Glyceryl Stearate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Phenyl Trimethicone
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Tocopheryl Acetate
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Isohexadecane
Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Polysorbate 80
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Cetyl Palmitate
Lactic Acid
Ethylhexylglycerin
Allantoin
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Aminomethyl Propanol
Sorbitan Stearate
Sorbitan Oleate
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Sodium Hyaluronate
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Tamarindus Indica Fruit Extract
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Tocopherol
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Phenoxyethanol
Sodium Benzoate
Potassium Sorbate
Limonene
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Water, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Isohexadecane, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Polysorbate 80, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Palmitate, Lactic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sorbitan Stearate, Sorbitan Oleate, Citric Acid, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Tamarindus Indica Fruit Extract, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene
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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.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
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.
Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
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.