Tropic Skincare Skin Re-Leaf Soothing Moisturiser Versus IMAGE skincare Vital C Hydrating Repair Cream

Tropic Skincare Skin Re-Leaf Soothing Moisturiser Versus IMAGE skincare Vital C Hydrating Repair Cream

This calming moisturizer is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Squalane to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.

This barrier-repair night moisturizer is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Squalane

Coconut Acid

Candelilla Cera

Caffeine

Allantoin

Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil

Zinc PCA

Tocopherol

Pinus Pinaster Leaf Extract

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Avenanthramides

Hyaluronic Acid

Ceramide As

Beta-Glucan

Coconut Oil Decyl Esters

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Beta-Carotene

Parfum

Lecithin

Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil

Grass-Hay Herb Extract

CI 75810

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Squalane, Coconut Acid, Candelilla Cera, Caffeine, Allantoin, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Zinc PCA, Tocopherol, Pinus Pinaster Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Avenanthramides, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide As, Beta-Glucan, Coconut Oil Decyl Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Beta-Carotene, Parfum, Lecithin, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Grass-Hay Herb Extract, CI 75810

Water

Glycerin

Dimethicone

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

Glyceryl Stearate

Isostearyl Neopentanoate

PEG-100 Stearate

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Cetearyl Alcohol

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil

Limonene

Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer

Cetyl Alcohol

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Stearyl Alcohol

Phenoxyethanol

Cyclopentasiloxane

Ceteth-10 Phosphate

Dicetyl Phosphate

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Panthenol

Caprylyl Glycol

Glycine Soja Sterols

Linoleic Acid

Phospholipids

Ethylhexylglycerin

Glucosamine Hcl

Hexylene Glycol

Xanthan Gum

Magnesium Aluminum Silicate

PEG-8

Butylene Glycol

Phytic Acid

Sodium Hydroxide

Pisum Sativum Extract

Retinyl Palmitate

Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract

Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil

Yeast Polysaccharides

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Disodium EDTA

Sodium Hyaluronate

Benzoic Acid

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Pyruvic Acid

Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract

Citric Acid

Ascorbic Acid

Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, PEG-100 Stearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Limonene, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Stearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tocopherol, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Dicetyl Phosphate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycine Soja Sterols, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucosamine Hcl, Hexylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, PEG-8, Butylene Glycol, Phytic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Pisum Sativum Extract, Allantoin, Retinyl Palmitate, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Yeast Polysaccharides, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzoic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Pyruvic Acid, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.

Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.

It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.

Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.

This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.

Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.

Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.

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.

Squalane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).

It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.

This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.

Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.

Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.

No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).

Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.

This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.

Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.

Read more about squalene with an "e".

Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.

The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.

Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.

A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.

The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.

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.

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