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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin versus Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US .

Last updated on October 29, 2023. Published on January 07, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both general moisturizers. They have a total of 3 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Suited For

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

Free From

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

What's Inside

They both contain silicones

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

General Moisturizer Canadian Brand Canada
General Moisturizer American Brand United States

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

Price

Shop

Buy Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin

Starts at $11.34
Shop

Buy Hydro Boost Water Gel

Starts at $19.99

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Hydrating (5)
Redness Reducing (4)
Reduces Irritation (3)
Anti-Aging (3)
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger
Eczema

Benefits

Hydrating (4)
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Skin Texture
Scar Healing
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
Acne Trigger
Rosacea (2)
Eczema
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin contains this as ingredient number 1.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin contains this as ingredient number 2.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.

Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin contains this as ingredient number 11.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 3.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

46% are loved or liked
4% have mixed ratings
50% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet
59% are loved or liked
12% have mixed ratings
26% are disliked or very disliked
3% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin 24 ingredients

3.2 /5
from 12 reviews
ZephyrRose_888's Avatar'
Oct 18, 2022

More drying?
It made me more dry. It's a good price point, and it works for some so I've heard, but when I used it I just felt more dry.

More drying?
It made me more dry. It's a good price point, and it works for some so I've heard, but when I used it I just felt more dry.

Luluskin's Avatar'
May 4, 2023

Light and moisturizing!
This daily moisturizer makes my skin feel so soft! It is very light and perfect for those with oily skin, and it very hydrating due to it's ceramides. After applying, it does dry fairly quickly, and may be a bit...

Light and moisturizing!
This daily moisturizer makes my skin feel so soft! It is very light and perfect for those with oily skin, and it very hydrating due to it's ceramides. After applying, it does dry fairly quickly, and may be a bit too light for those with dry skin. I recommend this for oily, combo, and balanced(normal) skin types.

nasaye's Avatar'
Apr 30, 2023

Good body moisturizer
I don't use it on my face, but it is a good body moisturizer. For my dry skin. It is not as rich as the cream version, which I prefer on the winter months.

Good body moisturizer
I don't use it on my face, but it is a good body moisturizer. For my dry skin. It is not as rich as the cream version, which I prefer on the winter months.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel 34 ingredients

3.3 /5
from 16 reviews
jeanpaul2301's Avatar'
Jul 9, 2021

Great mosturizer!
Tried this out of curiosity with my mom, both of us were pleased with our results. She has normal to dry skin and I have combo skin with fungal acne. She uses this everyday as soon as she gets out of the shower; without...

Great mosturizer!
Tried this out of curiosity with my mom, both of us were pleased with our results. She has normal to dry skin and I have combo skin with fungal acne. She uses this everyday as soon as she gets out of the shower; without it her skin would feel dry as a desert. In my case, I put this on after using the Cetaphil daily facial cleanser. I know this product isn't fungal acne safe but I have combo skin, so I put it on the areas of my face that instead of having fungal acne, are kind of dry (mostly my cheeks, nose and neck). This moisturizer makes my skin feel refreshed, hydrated and healthy. It definitely has fragrance, but It's nice and light. I won't give it 5 stars just because it isn't fungal acne safe:)

Region: US
JohnnyLeeZongHeng_352's Avatar'
Mar 31, 2023

Overrated moisturizer and it's expensive
I've used three tubs of this and my skin has gotten worse. The first two I noticed my skin gotten oilier than usual, but I want to trust the process like any other people. But I got a breakout on...

Overrated moisturizer and it's expensive
I've used three tubs of this and my skin has gotten worse. The first two I noticed my skin gotten oilier than usual, but I want to trust the process like any other people. But I got a breakout on my third tub so I switched to other products and my skin has gotten so much better. This is definitely not for oily skin that needs sebum control..

Region: US
cgi's Avatar'
May 3, 2021

I want to say I love it
This moisturizer isn’t even that bad, in fact it’s the first moisturizer that made my skin feel like a baby’s bum when I first got into the skincare world. It made my skin smooth within a month or so. It’s very...

I want to say I love it
This moisturizer isn’t even that bad, in fact it’s the first moisturizer that made my skin feel like a baby’s bum when I first got into the skincare world. It made my skin smooth within a month or so. It’s very lightweight and looks clear when you put it on. When you apply it, you might have to protect your face because it does take a couple of minutes to absorb into your skin. Though it was formulated for dry/extremely dry skin, I bought this product even though I have oily skin because I’ve seen many dermatologists recommend it to those with dehydrated oily skin or just oily skin in general. It smells good, but since it does have fragrance I would not recommend this to those with sensitive skin. I love the way it feels on my face but I feel like it just doesn’t pair with the other skincare products I own. I only use this occasionally when my skin feels a little dehydrated. Other than that, I’d totally recommend this to those with dehydrated oily skin and extremely dry skin!

Region: US

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion Normal to Dry Skin.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US.

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