Face Reality Skincare Hydrabalance Hydrating Gel Versus Thayers Soak It Up 80Hr Liquid Moisturizer
Updated on August 05, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 9 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 and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols
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
Face Reality Skincare Hydrabalance Hydrating Gel 29 ingredients
Thayers Soak It Up 80Hr Liquid Moisturizer 24 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
Face Reality Skincare Hydrabalance Hydrating Gel 29 ingredients
Thayers Soak It Up 80Hr Liquid Moisturizer 24 ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Syringa Vulgaris Leaf Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSantalum Austrocaledonicum Wood Oil
Masking
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex
Antioxidant
Totarol
Antioxidant
Acetyl Tributyl Citrate
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Phenyl T-Butylnitrone
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Carbomer, Maltodextrin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Potassium Sorbate, Syringa Vulgaris Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Santalum Austrocaledonicum Wood Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Citric Acid, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Totarol, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Alcohol, Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Phenyl T-Butylnitrone
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSambucus Nigra Flower Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Phytate, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sambucus Nigra Flower Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ceramide AP
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.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 GlycolCarbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
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 even out skin tone.
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.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin 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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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 WaterIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Face Reality Skincare Hydrabalance Hydrating Gel 29 ingredients
Thayers Soak It Up 80Hr Liquid Moisturizer 24 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
