e.l.f. cosmetics SuperHydrate Moisturizer Versus Skinfix Triple-Lipid Peptide Lotion

e.l.f. cosmetics SuperHydrate Moisturizer Versus Skinfix Triple-Lipid Peptide Lotion

This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Squalane to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.

This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride and Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Butylene Glycol

Glycerin

Dimethicone

PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether

Niacinamide

Trehalose

Squalane

Centella Asiatica Extract

Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract

Tocopheryl Acetate

Tocopherol

Propanediol

1,2-Hexanediol

Gellan Gum

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Caprylhydroxamic Acid

Tromethamine

Sodium Chloride

Sodium Citrate

Potassium Laurate

Sodium Benzoate

Potassium Sorbate

Phenoxyethanol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Niacinamide, Trehalose, Squalane, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gellan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tromethamine, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Laurate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate

Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters

Behenyl Alcohol

Glyceryl Stearate

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Lecithin

Stearyl Alcohol

Nylon-11

Dicaprylyl Ether

Sodium Hyaluronate

Oryza Sativa Bran Extract

Glycine Soja Seed Extract

Squalene

Hydrolyzed Rice Protein

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil

Glycine Soja Sterols

Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides

Chondrus Crispus Extract

Phytosteryl Macadamiate

Phytosterols

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Helianthus Annuus Extract

Dilinoleic Acid/Propanediol Copolymer

Pentylene Glycol

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Gluconolactone

Xanthan Gum

Citric Acid

Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Lecithin, Stearyl Alcohol, Nylon-11, Dicaprylyl Ether, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Squalene, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Glycine Soja Sterols, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosterols, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Dilinoleic Acid/Propanediol Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid

Reviews

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

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.

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.

Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

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!

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