Versus

Curel Hydrating Water Essence Versus Curel Sebum Trouble Care Moisture Facial Gel

Essence
General Moisturizer
Japanese Brand Japan
Japanese Brand Japan

Updated on June 04, 2024

Overview

Suited For

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

Free From

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

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and parabens

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

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About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

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
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

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.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing

Allantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.

Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.

Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Learn more about Allantoin
Masking, Skin Conditioning

Arginine is an amino acid that is important for human development. Your body uses is it to produce hair keratin and skin collagen.

As a cosmetic ingredient, Arginine has antioxidant properties and can also help repair damaged skin. This ingredient is derived either synthetically or from animals.

Arginine isn't fungal acne safe when used in the presence of other lipids (fats, fatty acids, oils, esters, etc). Oils and fats occur naturally within the skin, so take caution when using Arginine if you're prone to fungal acne.

Learn more about Arginine
Perfuming, Skin Conditioning

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract is a fragrance.

Preservative

Methylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.

Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.

Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.

The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.

Learn more about Methylparaben

When to use

58 Routines
55% use in am
45% use in pm
100% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
40 Routines
60% use in am
40% use in pm
100% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Curel Hydrating Water Essence 12 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 2 ratings
Absorbs Well (2) Hydrating (2) Great Value (1)
PatriciaDavid's avatar

PatriciaDavid

1 year ago
Review

I use this every morning before Curel intensive moisturiser, and I feel it gives my skin just that little extra hydration. In terms of texture, it's very much like water; I pump it three times in my hand and tap it all over my face. I have repurchased several times as it works for my sensitive, dry skin.

#hydrating
#absorbs well
jesskate's avatar

Jess Kate

1 month ago
Review

I’ve been using this for two months now and I love it. A lot of toners just feel like water and don’t do much but this one adds hydration to my skin and calms redness. The texture is slightly more viscous than water but not by much. It’s so simple and adds the hydration I need 🫶

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well

Curel Sebum Trouble Care Moisture Facial Gel 15 ingredients

4.3 /5
from 3 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Hydrating (1) Light (1)
Lelo's avatar

Lelo .

6 months ago
Review

I started using this product because I needed a moisturizer that was alcohol and oil free. It’s not too bad, it can be sticky for a bit after application but it doesn’t stay for long and it absorbs nicely. It also gives me a little bit of stinging sometimes with application (but I’m on Epiduo forte topical gel) and I still have that dry feeling sometimes after application. UPDATE: I am now using Show more

#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well
#sticky