Versus

Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Cleanser Versus Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer For Sensitive Skin

Face Cleanser
General Moisturizer
American Brand United States
American Brand United States

Updated on July 18, 2023

Overview

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens or oils

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

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About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin
Buffering

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.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

When to use

32 Routines
53% use in am
47% use in pm
91% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
496 Routines
50% use in am
50% use in pm
97% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Cleanser 24 ingredients

1.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Broke Me Out (2) Drying (2) Doesn't Work (1)
kristengaudin's avatar

Kristen Gaudin

8 months ago
Review

This is the absolute worst cleanser I’ve ever used. It may work for some people but it broke me out in this dry pimple looking rash all around my mouth. I do not have sensitive skin! My skins oily and mostly clear since being on accutane but this product has done a lot of damage..

#drying
#broke me out
#irritating
#sticky
alixcore's avatar

alixcore

1 year ago
Review

Acne flared up after use. Glitter is very visible. texture doesn't feel especially great; it's sort of dry.

#drying
#broke me out

Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer For Sensitive Skin 22 ingredients

3.6 /5
from 9 ratings
Hydrating (3) Light (3) Works Well (2)
115's avatar

115

2 years ago
Review

Super soothing moisturiser
I needed to repair my damaged skin barrier when I began adapalene treatment for acne. This felt so soothing and I've kept it in ever since. It plays well on my dry and acne prone skin in my PM and AM routines, I feel it helps keep my skin calm and hydrated alongside adapalene and the other actives in my routine.

Marimosa's avatar

Marimosa

2 years ago
Review

Gave me congested skin & was too greasy.
I really wanted this product to work but it really congested my skin. It also was greasy I was expecting it to really hydrate my skin but it didn't. it caused me more fungal acne as well.