Versus

e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Face Cream - US Versus The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan

General Moisturizer
General Moisturizer
American Brand United States
Canadian Brand Canada

Updated on June 13, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and 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 anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

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

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

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan

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, Moisturising

Trehalose 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 Trehalose
Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Sodium 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 Hyaluronate
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol 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.

When to use

435 Routines
52% use in am
48% use in pm
94% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
631 Routines
51% use in am
49% use in pm
98% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Face Cream 32 ingredients

2.8 /5
from 8 ratings
No Scent (4) Great Value (3) Hydrating (3)
Aybab_207's avatar

Aybab_207

2 years ago
Review

You‘ll get pimples if you have oily- combo skin
Every time when I used this, I got pimples the other day. Fragrance ist too strong and doesn’t hydrate much. I don’t recommend it.

maddishivar's avatar

Maddi Shivar

10 months ago
Review

I enjoy the after feeling it leaves on my skin the next morning.

#great value
#drying
#hydrating
#heavy

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan 40 ingredients

3.2 /5
from 16 ratings
Light (8) Absorbs Well (6) Hydrating (5)
JohnnyLeeZongHeng_352's avatar
Review

The moisturiser didnt break me out and it isnt sticky, very easy to spread and apply. The price is alright for the volume it provides.

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well
lizi_0's avatar

lizi_0

11 days ago
Review

Used for a few years but had a persistant feeling of stickiness and my skin would be very oily afterwards. Would recommend for dry skin but not oily or combination.

#broke me out
#heavy
#sticky
#oily