Belif Aqua Bomb Brightening Vitamin C Cream Versus Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel - US
Updated on October 29, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
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
Belif Aqua Bomb Brightening Vitamin C Cream 55 ingredients
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel 34 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Belif Aqua Bomb Brightening Vitamin C Cream 55 ingredients
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel 34 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Sorbitol
Humectant
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Pistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingLecithin
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningStellaria Media Extract
Skin ConditioningAlchemilla Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Equisetum Arvense Leaf Extract
AstringentUrtica Dioica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Nepeta Cataria Extract
TonicRubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBaptisia Tinctoria Root Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone/Phenyl Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Sodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Trehalose, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Panthenol, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Serine, Sorbitol, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Lecithin, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Stellaria Media Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Equisetum Arvense Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Nepeta Cataria Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Baptisia Tinctoria Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Phenyl Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Alcohol, Alcohol Denat., Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Citral, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
MaskingThreonine
Arginine
Masking
Proline
Skin ConditioningLysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
BufferingUrea
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Betaine
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Fructose
Humectant
Maltose
MaskingTrehalose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Serine, Glycine, Alanine, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Lysine Hcl, Glutamic Acid, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Betaine, Allantoin, Fructose, Maltose, Trehalose, Glucose, Pentylene Glycol, Synthetic Beeswax, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 WaterDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin 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 GlycerinTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.
This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSerine is an amino acid naturally found in our body. Our bodies use amino acids to create protein.
Amino-acids help give keep our skin hydrated. They play an important role in the skin barrier, which keeps the skin plump and firm.
Serine is a non-essential amino acid, meaning we don't need to obtain it from eating foods.
Learn more about SerineEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Belif Aqua Bomb Brightening Vitamin C Cream 55 ingredients
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel 34 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Belif Aqua Bomb Brightening Vitamin C Cream 55 ingredients
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel 34 ingredients
Burnssssss
Broke me out, made me really really itchy
I got this because it was one of the products I used two years ago that moisturized my skin without making me oily. However, they came out with a new formula earlier this year. I decided to try it anyways and right off the bat I could tell it was different. The old formula was unscented. I'm sensitive to scents, and the new one smells like strong herbal shampoo. I put it on and it stung a little. Show more
