The INKEY List Omega Water Cream Versus The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides

The INKEY List Omega Water Cream Versus The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides Detailed comparison of The INKEY List Omega Water Cream versus The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier and balance excess oil. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Linoleic Acid and Urea to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. Water Dicaprylyl Carbonate Glycerin Niacinamide Propanediol Betaine Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Magnesium Sulfate Glycosphingolipids Glycolipids Sodium Benzoate Disteardimonium Hectorite Oleic Acid Potassium Sorbate Citric Acid Polyglycerin-3 Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Magnesium Sulfate, Glycosphingolipids, Glycolipids, Sodium Benzoate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Oleic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Polyglycerin-3 Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Cetyl Ethylhexanoate Isodecyl Neopentanoate Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate Isosorbide Dicaprylate Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides Linoleic Acid Palmitic Acid Stearic Acid Arginine Glycine Alanine Serine Proline Threonine Glutamic Acid Lysine Hcl Xylitylglucoside Anhydroxylitol Xylitol Glucose Maltose Fructose Trehalose Sodium PCA PCA Sodium Lactate Urea Allantoin Sodium Hyaluronate Lecithin Triolein Dimethyl Isosorbide Pentylene Glycol Tocopherol Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Sodium Chloride Sodium Hydroxide Phenoxyethanol Chlorphenesin Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Glycosphingolipids, Glycolipids, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Arginine, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Proline, Threonine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Betaine, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Glucose, Maltose, Fructose, Trehalose, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Triolein, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration. Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte. Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even. Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability. Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine. 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. Disteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product. It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients. Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral. 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