Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Clinique Moisture Surge™ 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator versus Holika Holika Aloe Soothing Essence 80% Moist Cream .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on June 09, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin E

Suited For

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

Free From

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

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and 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 American Brand United States
General Moisturizer South Korean Brand South Korea

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

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

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Hyaluronic Acid
Peptides

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Anti-Aging
Scar Healing
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Irritating
Rosacea (2)
Eczema
Join our community

Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.

Join SkinSort

Ingredients Compared

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

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

Loading ingredients...

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

Clinique Moisture Surge™ 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator contains this as ingredient number 1.

Holika Holika Aloe Soothing Essence 80% Moist Cream contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
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.

Clinique Moisture Surge™ 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator contains this as ingredient number 2.

Holika Holika Aloe Soothing Essence 80% Moist Cream contains this as ingredient number 6.

3
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

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.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

Clinique Moisture Surge™ 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator contains this as ingredient number 3.

Holika Holika Aloe Soothing Essence 80% Moist Cream contains this as ingredient number 4.

4
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

Clinique Moisture Surge™ 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator contains this as ingredient number 4.

Holika Holika Aloe Soothing Essence 80% Moist Cream contains this as ingredient number 2.

5
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is an extract of the leaves of the aloe, Aloe barbadensis, Liliaceae.

You may know Aloe to be a good sunburn reliever and inflammation reducer. This is because it contains many components that are known to help reduce irritation and itchiness. These include vitamins, amino acids, polysaccharides, and more. The high water content of aloe also helps give a cooling effect.

Aloe contains the antioxidants Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins neutralize free radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.

The aloe plant is naturally abundant in polysaccharides, a carbohydrate made of sugar molecules. Polysaccharides help hydrate your skin by mimicking your skin's natural carbohydrates.

As it is easily absorbed by the skin, aloe is a great moisturizer. It is both a humectant and emollient. Emollients help trap moisture in your skin, keeping your skin soft. Humectants draw water from the air to your skin.

Other components of aloe include sugars such as monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, choline, many common minerals such as calcium, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.

Aloe does not protect against UV rays, despite it soothing sunburns.

There are over 420 species of aloe but Aloe Barbadensis is the most commonly used for topical products.

Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Clinique Moisture Surge™ 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator contains this as ingredient number 15.

Holika Holika Aloe Soothing Essence 80% Moist Cream contains this as ingredient number 10.

6
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Clinique Moisture Surge™ 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator contains this as ingredient number 35.

Holika Holika Aloe Soothing Essence 80% Moist Cream contains this as ingredient number 34.

7
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.

Sodium Citrate helps maintain the pH of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.

Sodium Citrate is a chelating agent. It neutralizes metal ions from water and prevents them from binding to other ingredients. This ensures the other ingredients will not be altered.

Learn more about Sodium Citrate

Clinique Moisture Surge™ 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator contains this as ingredient number 38.

Holika Holika Aloe Soothing Essence 80% Moist Cream contains this as ingredient number 36.

8
What it does: Masking, Preservative
Community Rating: Disliked

Sodium 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.

Sodium Benzoate 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 Benzoate

Clinique Moisture Surge™ 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator contains this as ingredient number 40.

Holika Holika Aloe Soothing Essence 80% Moist Cream contains this as ingredient number 37.

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

47% are loved or liked
16% have mixed ratings
30% are disliked or very disliked
7% have no rating yet
45% are loved or liked
18% have mixed ratings
33% are disliked or very disliked
5% have no rating yet

Usage

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

When to use

Loading routine usage...
Loading routine usage...

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Clinique Moisture Surge™ 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator 43 ingredients

4.8 /5
from 8 ratings
Absorbs Well (3) Hydrating (3) Works Well (3) Light (2) Expensive (1) Light Scent (1)
miss_dior's avatar

miss_dior

2 years ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator
My skin type: Dry, sensitive, eczema and redness-prone.
How long have I been using it? Two...

Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator
My skin type: Dry, sensitive, eczema and redness-prone.
How long have I been using it? Two months.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Pros:
- Highly moisturizing, it does exactly what it promises
- Very light, pleasant gel-like texture, absorbs easily into the skin
- Excellent as a makeup base
- Allergy tested and fragrance-free, it did not irritate my sensitive skin. (still smells really nice)
- Contains some really good ingredients, like aloe vera, green tea extract, glycerin, hyaluronic acid and vitamins C and E.
- Non-comedogenic, suitable for all skin types.
- Quite affordable, since a little bit goes a long way.

Cons:
- It may not be hydrating enough for extremely dry and dehydrated skin.
- Not cruelty-free.
- Personally, I do not buy the 100 hours of hydration it supposedly offers. Still a very hydrating product, but this feels more like marketing than anything.

Would I recommend it? Yes, but mostly for normal or combination skin types. Very dry or very oily skin types might need a different product.

stephrosecarter's avatar

stephrosecarter

9 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

Extremely hydrating and soothing

Holika Holika Aloe Soothing Essence 80% Moist Cream 40 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
emmaj_51's avatar

emmaj_51

8 months ago · Skin
Review

Absolute HG
Perfect for dehydrated, sensitive, acne & FA acne prone skin, rosacea, inflammation, etc. The only moisturizer that doesn't irritate my...

Absolute HG
Perfect for dehydrated, sensitive, acne & FA acne prone skin, rosacea, inflammation, etc. The only moisturizer that doesn't irritate my skin. Incredibly soothing and nourishing

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 21 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Clinique Moisture Surge™ 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator.

See 21 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Holika Holika Aloe Soothing Essence 80% Moist Cream.

See 50 alternatives
Loading similar comparisons...