Educational guide
Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Oil-Free Gel Cream Moisturizer Versus Youth To The People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream
Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Oil-Free Gel Cream Moisturizer Versus Youth To The People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrat
This guide cannot diagnose a condition or recommend a personal treatment plan. Discuss medical questions with a qualified professional.
Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Oil-Free Gel Cream Moisturizer Versus Youth To The People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide to calm redness and hydrate skin.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Propanediol
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Glycerin
Pentylene Glycol
Sodium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycine
Serine
Glutamic Acid
Aspartic Acid
Leucine
Alanine
Lysine
Arginine
Tyrosine
Phenylalanine
Proline
Threonine
Valine
Isoleucine
Histidine
Ascorbic Acid
Saccharide Isomerate
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Ceramide NP
Tocopheryl Acetate
Tocopherol
Hexapeptide-11
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment
Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment
Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment
Butylene Glycol
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Glyceryl Caprylate
Sucrose Stearate
Lecithin
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Xanthan Gum
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Sodium Citrate
Carbomer
Citric Acid
Cetearyl Alcohol
Sodium Hydroxide
Lactobacillus Ferment
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Hydroxyacetophenone
CI 77491
Water, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Ascorbic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Ceramide NP, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Hexapeptide-11, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sucrose Stearate, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Citrate, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactobacillus Ferment, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hydroxyacetophenone, CI 77491
Ethyl Oleate
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Niacinamide
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Behenyl Alcohol
Lauryl Laurate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Inonotus Obliquus Extract
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Linoleic Acid
Linolenic Acid
Oleic Acid
Phytic Acid
Stearic Acid
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Panthenol
C12-16 Alcohols
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Palmitic Acid
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Squalane
Caprylyl Glycol
Coco-Betaine
Ethylhexylglycerin
Fructose
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Caramel
Benzyl Alcohol
Phenoxyethanol
Potassium Sorbate
Water, Glycerin, Ethyl Oleate, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Behenyl Alcohol, Lauryl Laurate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Phytic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, C12-16 Alcohols, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Coco-Betaine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fructose, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Caramel, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
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.
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
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.
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.
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.
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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
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!
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.