Pur Cosmetics Tropical C Brightening Vitamin C & Peptide Moisturizer Versus Pur Cosmetics Cloud Cream Gel-to-Water Hydrating Essence Moisturizer

Pur Cosmetics Tropical C Brightening Vitamin C & Peptide Moisturizer Versus Pur Cosmetics Cloud Cream Gel-to-Water Hydrating Essence Moisturizer

This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate to brighten dull-looking skin and hydrate skin.

This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Ceramide AP and Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Propanediol

Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate

Trioctyldodecyl Citrate

Squalane

Ethyl Macadamiate

Glycerin

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Coconut Alkanes

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Mangifera Indica Seed Butter

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Eclipta Prostrata Extract

Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract

Carica Papaya Fruit Extract

Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate

Corallina Officinalis Extract

Melia Azadirachta Bark Extract

Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil

Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract

Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract

Litchi Chinensis Seed Extract

Mangifera Indica Leaf Extract

Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract

Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract

Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract

Tocopherol

Lactobacillus Ferment

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Nonapeptide-1

Citrus Limon Peel Extract

Citrus Grandis Peel Extract

Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract

Mentha Piperita Extract

Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Citrus Junos Peel Extract

Xanthan Gum

Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Carbomer

Silica

Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol Crosspolymer

Malic Acid

Sodium Phosphate

Sodium Carbonate

Sodium Chloride

Sodium Hydroxide

Phytic Acid

Disodium Phosphate

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Caprylyl Glycol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Phenoxyethanol

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Citric Acid

Water, Propanediol, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Squalane, Ethyl Macadamiate, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Coconut Alkanes, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Melia Azadirachta Bark Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Litchi Chinensis Seed Extract, Mangifera Indica Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Nonapeptide-1, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Extract, Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Mentha Piperita Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Citrus Junos Peel Extract, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Carbomer, Silica, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol Crosspolymer, Malic Acid, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Phytic Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citric Acid

Propylene Glycol

Cyclopentasiloxane

Dimethicone

Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer

Ceramide AP

Retinol

Lactic Acid

Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate

Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Xylitylglucoside

Anhydroxylitol

Xylitol

Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract

Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil

Punica Granatum Seed Extract

Citrus Paradisi Peel Extract

Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Rosa Damascena Extract

Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract

PEG-10 Dimethicone

Trimethylsiloxysilicate

Sodium Citrate

Dipropylene Glycol

Triethyl Citrate

Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Ceramide AP, Retinol, Lactic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Citrus Paradisi Peel Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Triethyl Citrate, Tocopherol

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is the filtered, stabilized liquid pressed from the inner gel of the aloe vera leaf.

In cosmetics, it shows up as either soothing active or a water-replacement base. It is roughly 98-99% water and the last 1-2% is an interesting mix of polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.

The polysaccharides do most of the work: they bind water at the skin surface for a light, non-greasy hydration boost. And one of the polysaccharides, glycomannan, is linked to fibroblast stimulation + collagen synthesis. This is also why aloe has such a long track record in wound and burn healing.

This ingredient is also calming with anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity, making it a great pick for sensitive, irritated, or post-sun skin.

Realistic expectations matter though; the solid evidence is mostly limited to hydration, soothing, and wound support. Deeper claims about anti-aging or sun protection are not well backed, and science reviews note it does not prevent radiation-induced skin injury.

Because it plays well with almost everything, it's commonly used as a base alongside other actives like niacinamide or vitamin C.

Typical usage concentrations range from 0.5% (where hydration benefits already show up) all the way to 90%+ (where it replaces water as the main base).

The safety for this ingredient is well-establish as well. Overall, this is a great supporting ingredient for those who want a boost in hydration.

This extract comes from the pineapple fruit. Its main claim to fame is bromelain, a gentle exfoliator that helps remove dead skin cells from the outermost layer of skin.

Exfoliation from bromelain is considered a gentler alternative to physical or chemical exfoliants; this makes it suitable for sensitive skin types.

Beyond exfoliation, this extract also contains natural sugars with humectant properties and some vitamin C.

Overall, this is a well-tolerated and low-risk ingredient unless you have a pineapple allergy.

This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.

Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).

Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.

Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.

While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.

This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.

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%.

Citrus Limon Peel Extract is created from the peel of a lemon. Lemon peels contain Vitamin C. Lemon peels also exhibit antibacterial, antioxidant, and antifungal properties.

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

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.

Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).

It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.

On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.

Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).

You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.

Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.

Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.

Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.

Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.

You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.

You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.

You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.

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!

Similar Comparisons