Differin

Differin Soothing Moisturizer

Name: Differin - Soothing Moisturizer
Brand: Differin

Efficacy100/100IrritancyMedium

See all ingredients In 2 routines

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Works for

1 of 1 advertised claim delivered

Moisturizing

Panthenol, Persea gratissima oil + 7 more

Strong evidence

What the product description says

“Soothing Moisturizer”

From product name

This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.

The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water. When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job: glycerin, caprylyl glycol.

This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: dimethicone, persea gratissima oil.

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol

Persea gratissima oilKey active· EmollientEffect: HighAn emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier function~1.7–2.6%

DimethiconeKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish~1–1.6%

GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~4–6.1%

PanthenolHero· HumectantEffect: HighHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function~0.55–1.3%

StearoxytrimethylsilaneKey active· EmollientEffect: Medium~0.15–0.55%

Cetearyl alcoholKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture~2.1–3.1%

Caprylyl glycol· Humectant, EmollientEffect: LowHelps preserve products and creates a nice product texture~0.35–0.8%

Hydrogenated polyisobutene· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: LowUsed to improve the product consistency and soften the upper layer of the skin~3.7–5.5%

TocopherolEffect: Low, below effective dosePure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~1.1–1.7%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy

1 strong irritant: Sodium anisate

Medium risk

We flagged 9 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

Benzyl alcoholA preservative. Can be used to mask unpleasant smell. Can be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.45%est.

Sodium anisateUsed as a fragranceHigh~0.05–0.2%est.

Ceteareth-20Helps oil and water mix together. Has some emollient propertiesMedium~2.6–3.8%est.

Persea gratissima oilAn emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier functionMedium~1.7–2.6%est.

Tocopheryl acetateA more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.Medium~1.3–1.9%est.

Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.45–1.05%est.

Sodium levulinateA preservativeMedium~0.4–0.9%est.

Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureMedium~0.35–0.8%est.

Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymerMaintains the texture of skincare products. Allows the product to spread evenly. Helps oil and water mix togetherMedium~0.05–0.2%est.

Comedogenic

2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale

2 flagged

These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.

IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount

Ceteareth-20Helps oil and water mix together. Has some emollient properties2/5~2.6–3.8%est.

Cetearyl alcoholA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture2/5~2.1–3.1%est.

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Alternatives

Cheaper, or higher on efficacy

Up&Up Face And Body Moisturizing Lotion

Cheaper61% match

$4.39

Nivea Sensitive Face Moisturiser with 0% Alcohol

Cheaper58% match

$6.58

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Ingredients

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Water~40–60%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Plain old water

More about Water

Glycerin~4–6.1%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin

Hydrogenated polyisobutene~3.7–5.5%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

Used to improve the product consistency and soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Hydrogenated polyisobutene

Ceteareth-20~2.6–3.8%

Comedogenic 2/5Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium
Comedogenicity: 2/5

Works for

Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together. Has some emollient properties

More about Ceteareth-20

Cetearyl alcohol~2.1–3.1%

Key activeComedogenic 2/5

Irritation risk: Low
Comedogenicity: 2/5

Works for

CleansingMoisturizing

A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture

More about Cetearyl alcohol

Persea gratissima oil~1.7–2.6%

Key activeIrritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Moisturizing

An emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier function

More about Persea gratissima oil

Tocopheryl acetate~1.3–1.9%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Anti-oxidation

A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.

More about Tocopheryl acetate

Tocopherol~1.1–1.7%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Anti-oxidationAnti-agingAnti-inflammatoryMoisturizing

Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself

More about Tocopherol

Dimethicone~1–1.6%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

MoisturizingMattifying

A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish

More about Dimethicone

Panthenol~0.55–1.3%

Hero · Moisturizing

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

MoisturizingReduces rednessReduces irritation

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function

More about Panthenol

Citric acid~0.45–1.05%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH

More about Citric acid

Sodium levulinate~0.4–0.9%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

A preservative

More about Sodium levulinate

Caprylyl glycol~0.35–0.8%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Moisturizing

Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture

More about Caprylyl glycol

Benzyl alcohol~0.1–0.45%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A preservative. Can be used to mask unpleasant smell. Can be irritating

More about Benzyl alcohol

Stearoxytrimethylsilane~0.15–0.55%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

More about Stearoxytrimethylsilane

Stearyl alcohol~0.1–0.4%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Cleansing

An emollient that helps soften the skin

More about Stearyl alcohol

Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer~0.05–0.2%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Maintains the texture of skincare products. Allows the product to spread evenly. Helps oil and water mix together

More about Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer

Sodium anisate~0.05–0.2%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Used as a fragrance

More about Sodium anisate

Ingredient list view

Water, Glycerin, Hydrogenated polyisobutene, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl alcohol, Persea gratissima oil, Tocopheryl acetate, Tocopherol, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Citric acid, Sodium levulinate, Caprylyl glycol, Benzyl alcohol, Stearoxytrimethylsilane, Stearyl alcohol, Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Sodium anisate

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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
	DifferinSoothing MoisturizerYOUR PRODUCT	CetaphilBody & Face Moisturizing Lotion Unscented	Up&UpFace And Body Moisturizing Lotion	ObagiHydrate Facial Moisturizer
Match	—	66%	61%	60%
Price	$7.69	$12.80+$5.11	$4.39−$3.30	$51.50+$43.81
Shared key ingredients	—	4 of 5	3 of 5	5 of 5
Key difference	—	Niacinamide	—	Bisabolol
Irritancy	Medium	Low	Medium	Low
Drying alcohol	—	—	—	—
	View product	Shop	Shop	Shop

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Product summary

Judging from the ingredient list, "Differin - Soothing Moisturizer" works well for improving skin hydration This moisturizer uses a good combo of humectants and emollients. These both types of ingredients are essentials for improving the skin hydration and keeping the skin barrier healthy. Panthenol, glycerin and caprylyl glycol in this product (humectants) attract water molecules to the upper layer of the skin (the water comes from the outside air or from the deeper layers of the skin if the air is dry). Emollients in this formulation (persea gratissima oil, dimethicone, cetearyl alcohol, stearoxytrimethylsilane and caprylyl glycol) help to reduce the moisture loss from the skin. They also soften the skin surface and relieve the feeling of dryness and tightness.

Ingredient callouts

Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) at about 0.55% - 1.30% concentration. In this concentration, Panthenol works effectively to improve the skin barrier and reduce inflammation.

Irritation risk

This formulation includes some common irritants, including ingredients that do not provide a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here

You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.