Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Kiehl's Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream Versus First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer

Kiehl's Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream Versus First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer Detailed comparison of Kiehl's Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream versus First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer. This calming moisturizer is formulated a

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

Kiehl's Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream Versus First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer Detailed comparison of Kiehl's Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream versus First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer. This calming moisturizer is formulated around Panthenol and Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract to calm redness and hydrate skin. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Avena Sativa Kernel Flour and Squalane to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness. Water Dimethicone Glycerin Propylene Glycol Propanediol Panthenol Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer Bisabolol Diisopropyl Sebacate Sodium Chloride Phenoxyethanol Polymethylsilsesquioxane Chlorphenesin Citrus Limon Peel Oil Sodium Citrate Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract Limonene PEG-10 Dimethicone Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Calendula Officinalis Flower Citric Acid Dipropylene Glycol Geranium Maculatum Oil Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil Citral Citronellol Geraniol Farnesol Linalool Tocopherol Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil Artemisia Absinthium Extract Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Propanediol, Panthenol, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Chlorphenesin, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Sodium Citrate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Limonene, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Calendula Officinalis Flower, Citric Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Farnesol, Linalool, Tocopherol, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Artemisia Absinthium Extract Glyceryl Stearate Se Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Urea Cetyl Alcohol Avena Sativa Kernel Flour Squalane Caprylyl Glycol Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Allantoin Persea Gratissima Oil N-Butyl Alcohol Carbomer Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Sodium Hydroxide Ceramide NP Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate Tetrasodium EDTA Water, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Urea, Cetyl Alcohol, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Allantoin, Persea Gratissima Oil, N-Butyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Ceramide NP, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Tetrasodium EDTA These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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. 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 effe