Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel Versus First Aid Beauty Hydrating Dewy Gel Cream

CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel Versus First Aid Beauty Hydrating Dewy Gel Cream Detailed comparison of CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel versus First Aid Beauty Hydrating Dewy Gel Cream. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide a

This source-based comparison does not add ratings or recommend a winner.

CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel Versus First Aid Beauty Hydrating Dewy Gel Cream Detailed comparison of CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel versus First Aid Beauty Hydrating Dewy Gel Cream. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. Water Glycerin Niacinamide Propanediol Dimethicone Isononyl Isononanoate Ceramide NP Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Carbomer Dimethicone Crosspolymer Cetearyl Alcohol Behentrimonium Methosulfate Triethyl Citrate Silica Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Hyaluronate Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Cholesterol Phenoxyethanol Tocopherol Chlorphenesin Caprylyl Glycol Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Biosaccharide Gum-1 Xanthan Gum Phytosphingosine Benzoic Acid Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Triethyl Citrate, Silica, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Benzoic Acid Squalane Phenyl Trimethicone Betaine Pentylene Glycol Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone Colloidal Oatmeal Sorbitan Isostearate Decyl Glucoside Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Ethylhexylglycerin Butylene Glycol Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer Glyceryl Glucoside Dimethiconol Polysilicone-11 1,2-Hexanediol Hydroxyacetophenone Hexylene Glycol Polysorbate 60 Water, Glycerin, Squalane, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Betaine, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Colloidal Oatmeal, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Glucoside, Dimethiconol, Polysilicone-11, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 60 These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created. Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin. Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on). Ceramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids. Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes. This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants. A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%. Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days. Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient. Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically. 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