Versus

Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion with Hyaluronic Acid - Normal to Very Dry Skin Versus Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel - US

General Moisturizer
General Moisturizer
American Brand United States
American Brand United States

Updated on October 29, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 5 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 and dark spots

Free From

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

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant 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

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

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
Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol
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, Skin Conditioning

Sodium 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 PCA

When to use

101 Routines
56% use in am
44% use in pm
95% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
2,474 Routines
55% use in am
45% use in pm
98% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion with Hyaluronic Acid 20 ingredients

1.0 /5
from 1 rating
Broke Me Out (1) Doesn't Work (1) Drying (1)
redshoesmatcha's avatar

Elsie

2 days ago
Review

I don't recommend using this if you actually have a bad case of sensitive skin. This lotion completely burned my skin and messed up my skin barrier. I don't have an issue with hyaluronic acid (I regularly use the ROUND LAB 1025 Dokdo Ampoule *I was not using both at the same time). I don't know what caused the major irritation but even my sister's skin barrier was burnt/messed up and her skin is a Show more

#drying
#broke me out
#irritating
#doesn't work

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel 34 ingredients

3.3 /5
from 38 ratings
Light (15) Absorbs Well (12) Strong Scent (10)
bvechiato's avatar

bvechiato

2 years ago
Review

Burnssssss
Broke me out, made me really really itchy

BaiFengxi's avatar

BaiFengxi

12 months ago
Review

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

#irritating
#strong scent