Bobbi Brown Hydrating Water Fresh Cream Versus Mac Cosmetics Lightful C3 Radiant Hydration Skin Renewal Lotion
Updated on November 23, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both general moisturizers. They have a total of 16 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain exfoliants and hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
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
Bobbi Brown Hydrating Water Fresh Cream 40 ingredients
Mac Cosmetics Lightful C3 Radiant Hydration Skin Renewal Lotion 33 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Bobbi Brown Hydrating Water Fresh Cream 40 ingredients
Mac Cosmetics Lightful C3 Radiant Hydration Skin Renewal Lotion 33 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientAlgae Extract
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitol
Humectant
Sodium Polyaspartate
HumectantLecithin
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water
MaskingSodium Lactate
BufferingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium PCA
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantC9-12 Alkane
SolventSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Propanediol
SolventCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Algae Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sorbitol, Sodium Polyaspartate, Lecithin, Trehalose, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water, Sodium Lactate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium PCA, Hydroxyethyl Urea, C9-12 Alkane, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycereth-26
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingAlgae Extract
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sucrose
HumectantSilica
Abrasive
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Methyl Gluceth-20, Trehalose, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sucrose, Silica, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Polysorbate 20, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide
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 WaterGlycerin 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 GlycerinButylene 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.
Algae Extract is a confusing name. This is because algae is an informal term for a group of 30,000 aquatic organisms that can photosynthesize.
The term 'algae extract' can refer to any one, or a blend of, the 30,000 types.
Algae is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Algae can also help with soothing and hydrating skin.
Many different types of algae have different benefits.
Learn more about Algae ExtractSodium 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 HyaluronateCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract comes from the watermelon. Watermelon has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Watermelons are rich in antioxidants such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C and lycopene. It also contains sugars and amino acids, such as arginine and glutathione.
Lycopene is a potent antioxidant. Besides helping to protect your skin against free-radical molecules, it also helps soothe the skin. Lycopene gives watermelon the distinct red color.
Learn more about Citrullus Lanatus Fruit ExtractWe don't have a description for Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract yet.
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract is extract from Apples. Apples are rich in Vitamin C, sugars, and antioxidants.
The sugar in Apples are humectants and help hydrate the skin. On top of that, apples also contain some acids, such as malic acid. These acids may have a mild exfoliating effect.
Last, the phytochemicals found in apples are strong antioxidants. These antioxidants help with anti-aging as they protect your skin cells against oxidative damage.
Learn more about Pyrus Malus Fruit ExtractTrehalose 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 TrehaloseSodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and sometimes used to adjust the pH of a product.
This ingredient is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin. NMF also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.
High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.
Fun fact: Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.
Learn more about Sodium LactateThis extract comes from cucumber. Cucumbers are mostly made up of water (95%), and the other 5% is composed of: vitamin C, caffeic acid, fatty acids, amino acids, and other minerals.
Cucumbers have anti-inflammatory, barrier repair, and hydrating properties.
They contain shikimate dehydrigenase, an enzyme shown to help reduce inflammation and soothe the skin.
The amino acids found in cucumbers help nourish our skin's natural acid mantle (it's an important part of our skin barrier). This slightly acidic film acts as a barrier to protect us from bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants.
Unless you have an allergy to cucumbers, this is generally a non-irritating ingredient.
Fun fact: Cucumis Sativus is native to South Asia and can now be found on every continent.
Learn more about Cucumis Sativus Fruit ExtractSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCADisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
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