Below is every ingredient in Hyphen Ceramide Rich Pillow Cream explained, its standout actives, and the side effects reported in research for those actives — analysed for Indian skin.
Flags derived from the ingredient list using dermatology reference data (fungal-acne substrate, comedogenicity, EU allergens). General guidance, not a diagnosis.
Answers are derived from the printed ingredient list and dermatology reference data — general guidance, not a diagnosis or a therapeutic claim.
Houttuynia Cordata Extract is a plant-derived ingredient used in skincare for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. It is often included to calm sensitive or acne-prone skin and reduce redness.
Allantoin is a naturally derived or synthetically produced compound used in skincare for its soothing, moisturizing, and keratolytic (skin-softening) properties. It promotes cell proliferation and helps calm irritation, commonly appearing in creams, lotions, and after-sun products.
Urea is a naturally occurring component of the skin's natural moisturizing factor that hydrates by attracting and retaining water; at higher concentrations it also softens and exfoliates thickened or scaly skin. It is widely used to treat dry skin conditions such as xerosis, ichthyosis, and hyperkeratosis.
Beta-glucan is a polysaccharide derived from sources such as oats, yeast, and mushrooms that functions as a humectant and skin-soothing ingredient. It supports hydration, helps reinforce the skin barrier, and has been studied for antioxidant and wound-healing properties.
Hippophae Rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) Fruit Oil is a plant-derived lipid rich in carotenoids, tocopherols, and unsaturated fatty acids, used in skincare as an emollient and antioxidant. It is also valued for purported soothing and skin-conditioning properties.
Aggregated from the active ingredients in this product.
| Reported effect | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Irritation or sensitivity | Very rare | Purified water itself is essentially inert; rare reactions are attributable to contaminants or accompanying ingredients rather than water. |
| Transepidermal water loss aggravation in compromised skin | Rare | Evaporation of water from products may transiently increase dryness in very compromised skin barriers if occlusives are absent. |
| Mild contact irritation | Rare | Occasional redness or stinging, usually in sensitive or compromised skin. |
| Allergic contact dermatitis | Very rare | Isolated case reports; considered a low-sensitizing ingredient. |
| Comedogenicity / clogged pores | Rare | Generally low comedogenic potential, but acne-prone individuals may occasionally react. |
| Skin irritation or redness | Uncommon | Mild transient irritation may occur, especially in concentrated formulations. |
| Contact urticaria | Very rare | Isolated hypersensitivity reactions have been reported with plant extracts. |
| Mild transient irritation or stinging | Rare | Generally reported only at high concentrations or on compromised skin barriers. |
| Mild transient stinging or irritation | Uncommon | More likely at high concentrations or on compromised/broken skin. |
| Tacky or sticky skin feel | Common | A cosmetic sensation rather than an adverse reaction, more noticeable at higher concentrations. |
| Contact dermatitis or allergic reaction | Rare | True allergy to glycerin is uncommon; patch-test positivity is infrequent. |
| Skin dehydration in very low humidity | Rare | In very dry environments humectants may draw water from deeper skin layers if not paired with an occlusive. |
| Mild skin irritation | Rare | Occasional transient redness or stinging, generally in sensitive or compromised skin. |
| Comedogenicity / pore congestion | Uncommon | May contribute to clogged pores in acne-prone individuals depending on formulation. |
Frequencies reflect typical cosmetic use reported in the literature, not a guarantee for your skin.
| Ingredient | What it does |
|---|---|
| Aqua Solvent / vehicle | Aqua (water) is the most common base ingredient in skincare formulations, serving as a solvent that dissolves water-soluble components and forms the medium for emulsions. It has no direct treatment activity and primarily contributes to texture, spreadability, and product delivery. |
| Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Emollient / skin-conditioning agent | Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is a lightweight emollient derived from coconut or palm oil and glycerin, used to soften skin, improve spreadability, and act as a solvent for oil-soluble ingredients. It is well-tolerated and serves primarily as a base ingredient rather than an active. |
| Houttuynia Cordata Extract Key active Soothing antioxidant | Houttuynia Cordata Extract is a plant-derived ingredient used in skincare for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. It is often included to calm sensitive or acne-prone skin and reduce redness. |
| Trehalose Humectant / moisturizer | Trehalose is a naturally occurring disaccharide used in skincare as a humectant and protective agent, helping retain moisture and stabilize cell membranes and proteins against dehydration and oxidative stress. It is well tolerated and commonly used to support skin barrier hydration. |
| Glycerin Humectant | Glycerin is a widely used humectant that attracts and retains water in the skin, helping to hydrate the stratum corneum and support barrier function. It is considered safe and well-tolerated across most skin types and concentrations. |
| Glyceryl Stearate SE Emulsifier / emollient | Glyceryl Stearate SE is a self-emulsifying form of glyceryl stearate used to blend oil and water phases in creams and lotions, also providing a softening, conditioning effect on skin. It functions as a formulation base ingredient rather than a therapeutic active. |
| Dicaprylyl Carbonate Emollient / texture enhancer | Dicaprylyl Carbonate is a lightweight, non-greasy emollient derived from coconut-based fatty alcohols and carbonic acid, used to improve skin feel and spreadability in cosmetic formulations. It also acts as a solvent and helps distribute pigments and other ingredients evenly. |
| Steareth-21 Emulsifier/surfactant | Steareth-21 is a polyethylene glycol ether of stearyl alcohol used as a nonionic emulsifier and surfactant to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions and improve texture in skincare formulations. It is a base/formulation ingredient rather than a treatment active. |
| Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Emollient/occlusive | Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (shea butter) is a plant-derived fat used in skincare as an emollient and occlusive agent to soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss. It is rich in fatty acids and unsaponifiables that condition and help maintain the skin barrier. |
| Allantoin Key active Soothing/skin-conditioning agent | Allantoin is a naturally derived or synthetically produced compound used in skincare for its soothing, moisturizing, and keratolytic (skin-softening) properties. It promotes cell proliferation and helps calm irritation, commonly appearing in creams, lotions, and after-sun products. |
| Panthenol Humectant / skin-conditioning agent | Panthenol (provitamin B5) is converted to pantothenic acid in the skin, where it acts as a humectant and helps support skin barrier function and hydration. It is also used for its soothing and mild anti-inflammatory properties in topical formulations. |
| Urea Key active Humectant / keratolytic | Urea is a naturally occurring component of the skin's natural moisturizing factor that hydrates by attracting and retaining water; at higher concentrations it also softens and exfoliates thickened or scaly skin. It is widely used to treat dry skin conditions such as xerosis, ichthyosis, and hyperkeratosis. |
| Pentylene Glycol Humectant / solvent / preservative-booster | Pentylene glycol is a glycol used in cosmetics as a humectant and solvent that also enhances the antimicrobial efficacy of formulations, helping reduce reliance on traditional preservatives. It improves skin hydration and aids the delivery and stability of other ingredients. |
| Fructose Humectant | Fructose is a simple monosaccharide sugar used in skincare primarily as a humectant that attracts and binds water to help maintain skin hydration. It is generally considered a supporting/base ingredient rather than a therapeutic active. |
| Maltose Humectant / skin-conditioning agent | Maltose is a disaccharide sugar used in skincare primarily as a humectant and skin-conditioning agent, helping to attract and retain moisture in the stratum corneum. It is generally considered a low-risk, well-tolerated formulation ingredient rather than a therapeutic active. |
| Sodium PCA Humectant | Sodium PCA (sodium pyrrolidone carboxylic acid) is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid and a component of the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF). It is widely used in cosmetics as a water-binding humectant to hydrate and soften the skin. |
| Sodium Lactate Humectant / NMF component | Sodium lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid and a key component of skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), used to hydrate the skin and buffer formulation pH. It also has mild exfoliating and humectant properties that help maintain skin moisture and barrier function. |
| Sodium Hyaluronate Humectant / hydrator | Sodium hyaluronate is the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid, a glycosaminoglycan that attracts and binds water to the skin to improve hydration and surface plumpness. Its lower molecular weight allows better penetration than native hyaluronic acid. |
| Glucose Humectant/skin-conditioning agent | Glucose is a simple sugar used in skincare primarily as a humectant and skin-conditioning ingredient, helping to attract and retain moisture in the skin. It can also serve as a substrate in formulations and contributes to the skin's natural moisturizing factors. |
| Ceramide 1 Skin barrier lipid / moisturizer | Ceramide 1 (Ceramide EOP) is a naturally occurring epidermal lipid used in skincare to help restore and reinforce the skin's barrier and reduce transepidermal water loss. It is commonly combined with other ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids to mimic the skin's natural lipid matrix. |
| Ceramide NG Skin-barrier lipid / moisturizer | Ceramide NG (formerly ceramide 2) is a synthetic skin-identical lipid that helps restore and reinforce the stratum corneum barrier, reducing transepidermal water loss and improving hydration. It is widely used in moisturizers and barrier-repair formulations. |
| Ceramide NP Skin-barrier replenishing lipid / emollient | Ceramide NP (formerly ceramide 3) is a naturally occurring sphingolipid that helps restore and maintain the skin's lipid barrier, reducing transepidermal water loss and improving hydration. It is widely used in moisturizers and barrier-repair formulations. |
| Ceramide 4 Skin-barrier lipid / emollient | Ceramide 4 (Ceramide AP) is a naturally occurring skin lipid used in formulations to help restore and reinforce the skin barrier and reduce transepidermal water loss. It supports the stratum corneum's lipid matrix, improving hydration and skin resilience. |
| Ceramide AP Skin barrier lipid / moisturizer | Ceramide AP (ceramide 6-II) is a naturally occurring sphingolipid that helps restore and maintain the skin's barrier function and reduce transepidermal water loss. It is commonly used in moisturizers and barrier-repair formulations, often combined with other ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. |
| Beta-Glucan Key active Hydrating soothing agent | Beta-glucan is a polysaccharide derived from sources such as oats, yeast, and mushrooms that functions as a humectant and skin-soothing ingredient. It supports hydration, helps reinforce the skin barrier, and has been studied for antioxidant and wound-healing properties. |
| Laminaria Digitata Extract Conditioning/antioxidant | Laminaria Digitata Extract is derived from brown seaweed and is used in skincare for its mineral, polysaccharide, and antioxidant content, providing skin-conditioning, hydrating, and soothing benefits. It is commonly included for its purported moisturizing and protective properties. |
| Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil Key active Emollient/antioxidant | Hippophae Rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) Fruit Oil is a plant-derived lipid rich in carotenoids, tocopherols, and unsaturated fatty acids, used in skincare as an emollient and antioxidant. It is also valued for purported soothing and skin-conditioning properties. |
| Cetyl-PG Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide Skin-conditioning emollient / pseudo-ceramide | Cetyl-PG Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide is a synthetic pseudo-ceramide used to mimic natural skin ceramides, helping to support the skin barrier and reduce transepidermal water loss. It functions as an emollient and moisturizing agent commonly found in barrier-repair and dry-skin formulations. |
| Sodium Acrylates Copolymer Thickener / film-forming stabilizer | Sodium Acrylates Copolymer is a synthetic anionic polymer used to thicken, stabilize, and improve the texture of cosmetic formulations, often forming a smooth film on the skin. It functions primarily as a rheology modifier and emulsion stabilizer rather than a treatment active. |
| C12-18 Alkanoyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer Emollient/film-former | C12-18 Alkanoyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer is a synthetic copolymer used in skincare formulations primarily as a skin-conditioning emollient and film-forming agent. It helps improve texture, spreadability, and the protective barrier feel of cosmetic products. |
| Sodium Polyacrylate Thickener / absorbent | Sodium polyacrylate is a superabsorbent acrylic-acid polymer used in skincare as a thickening, stabilizing, and water-binding agent that can hold large amounts of liquid to create gel-like textures. It functions as a formulation and texture-enhancing ingredient rather than a biologically active treatment. |
| Sodium Gluconate Chelating agent / skin-conditioning | Sodium gluconate is the sodium salt of gluconic acid used in skincare primarily as a chelating agent to bind metal ions and stabilize formulations, with secondary humectant and skin-conditioning properties. It is generally considered a base/formulation ingredient rather than an active treatment. |
Key active = does the main work. Ingredient explanations are drawn from public databases & literature.
Peer-reviewed papers on the active ingredients in this product, via PubMed.