Kiehl's Dermatologist Solutions™ Centella Cica Cream Versus Summer Fridays Rich Cushion Cream Ultra Plumping Moisturizer

Kiehl's Dermatologist Solutions™ Centella Cica Cream Versus Summer Fridays Rich Cushion Cream Ultra Plumping Moisturizer Detailed comparison of Kiehl's Dermatologist Solutions™ Centella Cica Cream versus Summer Fridays Rich Cushion Cream Ultra Plumping Moisturizer. This calming moisturizer is formulated around Centella Asiatica Extract to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil and Hyaluronic Acid to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. Water Ethylhexyl Palmitate Glycerin Dipropylene Glycol Carbomer Sodium Hydroxide Caprylyl Glycol Ethylhexylglycerin Centella Asiatica Extract Tocopherol Citric Acid Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tocopherol, Citric Acid Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Glyceryl Stearate Isopropyl Myristate Cetyl Alcohol Betaine Hyaluronic Acid Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil Persea Gratissima Oil Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil Squalane Saccharide Isomerate Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Bisabolol Allantoin Salicornia Herbacea Extract Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract Resveratrol Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Tocopheryl Acetate Panthenol Sodium PCA Sodium Lactate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Glyceryl Laurate Stearic Acid Palmitic Acid Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin Sodium Citrate Glyceryl Stearate Citrate Glyceryl Caprylate Potassium Sorbate Xanthan Gum Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Sodium Benzoate Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Isopropyl Myristate, Cetyl Alcohol, Betaine, Hyaluronic Acid, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Squalane, Saccharide Isomerate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Resveratrol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Laurate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Benzoate These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created. Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin. Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on). Centella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is one of the most researched botanical extracts in skincare with decades of studies backing its effects on inflammation, collagen, and the skin barrier. That research keeps pointing back to the same four triterpenoid saponins: Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid. These compounds allow centella to dial back inflammation, encourage the skin to build and hold onto collagen, support the barrier and hydration, and bring solid antioxidant activity to protect against signs of aging. Centella also carries a nice supporting cast of Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and amino acids. Put it all together and you get an ingredient that soothes, hydrates, and protects, all at once. Most of centella's magic comes from the four big compounds (Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid). These are the actives doing the heavy lifting in almost every centella study. Here is the short version of what they do in the skin: So it is not just soothing for the sake of soothing. Centella calms the skin AND helps it rebuild. Just FYI, not all centella on an ingredient list is the same. What you are getting actually depends on the extract: Fun fact on the ratios: the leaves tend to be richest in Madecassoside and Asiaticoside, and lower in the two acids. The exact amounts shift with where the plant is grown and how it is processed. This means purity really does vary brand to brand. Centella is one of the most easygoing actives out there. It layers well with basically everything: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamin C, and also pairs nicely with stronger actives like retinoids and exfoliating acids where it can help take the edge off irritation. On the safety side, centella and its triterpenes are classified as weak sensitizers, meaning allergic reactions are possible but uncommon. Patch tests at 1% and 5% came back negative in test panels, and creams at typical use levels did not cause allergic reactions across large groups of people. But as with any new active, a patch test is still a smart move for very reactive skin. Centella is widely used because it is effective at low percentages. For context, human safety testing found no meaningful irritation from creams containing centella extract at everyday use levels (the tested amounts were well under 1%). The irritancy threshold in animal testing was also above 30% (so real-world formulas sit far below anything concerning). In collagen l