Sunday Riley Ice Ceramide Moisturizing Cream Versus Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Oil-Free Gel Cream Moisturizer

Sunday Riley Ice Ceramide Moisturizing Cream Versus Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Oil-Free Gel Cream Moisturizer

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

This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Chondrus Crispus Extract

Squalane

C13-15 Alkane

Glycerin

Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax

Lanolin Alcohol

Tri (Polyglyceryl-3/Lauryl) Hydrogenated Trilinoleate

Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract

Ceramide NP

Ceramide EOP

Ceramide AP

Sodium Hyaluronate

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract

Fructooligosaccharides

Beta Vulgaris Root Extract

Shea Butter Ethyl Esters

Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract

Pimpinella Anisum Fruit Extract

Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract

Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract

Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract

Punica Granatum Sterols

Rosa Damascena Flower Oil

Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract

Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil

Ricinus Communis Seed Oil

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax

Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate

Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Triethyl Citrate

Tapioca Starch

Maltol

Polyquaternium-80

Sodium Phytate

Magnesium Stearate

Magnesium Aspartate

Pentylene Glycol

Tocopherol

Phytosphingosine

Cholesterol

Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract

Zinc Gluconate

Copper Gluconate

Phenoxyethanol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Xanthan Gum

Carbomer

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate

Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol

Water, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Squalane, C13-15 Alkane, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Lanolin Alcohol, Tri (Polyglyceryl-3/Lauryl) Hydrogenated Trilinoleate, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Pimpinella Anisum Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Sterols, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Triethyl Citrate, Tapioca Starch, Maltol, Polyquaternium-80, Sodium Phytate, Magnesium Stearate, Magnesium Aspartate, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol

Propanediol

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

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

Tocopheryl Acetate

Hexapeptide-11

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment

Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment

Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment

Butylene Glycol

Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer

Glyceryl Caprylate

Sucrose Stearate

Lecithin

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate

Cetearyl Olivate

Sorbitan Olivate

Sodium Citrate

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

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.

This extract comes from the pineapple fruit. Its main claim to fame is bromelain, a gentle exfoliator that helps remove dead skin cells from the outermost layer of skin.

Exfoliation from bromelain is considered a gentler alternative to physical or chemical exfoliants; this makes it suitable for sensitive skin types.

Beyond exfoliation, this extract also contains natural sugars with humectant properties and some vitamin C.

Overall, this is a well-tolerated and low-risk ingredient unless you have a pineapple allergy.

Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.

Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.

It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.

Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.

A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.

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.

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.

Pentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:

Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.

On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.

Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.

Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.

In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.

Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:

Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.

Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.

You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.

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.

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