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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Garnier Hyalu-Melon Replumping Serum Cream SPF 15 versus Merle Norman Preventage Firming Defense Creme Normal/Dry Broad Spectrum SPF 15 .

Published on February 17, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free day moisturizers. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants, hyaluronic acid, SPF and Vitamin E

Suited For

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

Free From

They both do not contain any common allergens, oils 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 need an update? Let us know.

Day Moisturizer French Brand France
Day Moisturizer American Brand United States

Day Moisturizer

Day Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin during the daytime.

Day Moisturizer

Day Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin during the daytime.

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
spf rating
15
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
15

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (4)
Vitamin E
Exfoliators
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Anti-Aging
Scar Healing
Brightening (2)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (4)
Eczema (3)

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (2)
Retinoid
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Exfoliators
Hyaluronic Acid
Peptides

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Skin Texture (2)
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (3)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (4)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Irritating (4)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (8)
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Ingredients Compared

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

Octocrylene 9.4% • Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1.9% • Water • Glycerin • Butyloctyl Salicylate • Diethylhexyl Maleate • Jojoba Esters • Cyclopentasiloxane • C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters • Phenyl Trimethicone • Stearic Acid • Stearyl Alcohol • Glyceryl Polymethacrylate • Propylene Glycol • Biosaccharide Gum-1 • Sorbitan Stearate • Dimethicone • Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline • Peg-100 Stearate • Polysorbate 60 • Ppg-20 Methyl Glucose Ether • Hydrolyzed Malt Extract • Tocopheryl Acetate • Caprylyl Glycol • Bis-Ethylhexyl Hydroxydimethoxy Benzylmalonate • Bisabolol • Cetearyl Methicone • Hydrolyzed Elastin • Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract • Peg-8 • Alcohol • Triethanolamine • Sorbitol • Lecithin • Collagen Amino Acids • Peg-7m • Carbomer • Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Phospholipids • Silica • Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract • Glycyrrhetinic Acid • Butylene Glycol • Tetrasodium EDTA • Hydrolyzed Rice Protein • Disodium EDTA • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Pvp • Phenoxyethanol • Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract • Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract • Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract • Chlorphenesin • Methylisothiazolinone • Hyaluronic Acid • Polyquaternium-24 • Ilex Aquifolium Leaf Extract • Sodium Oleanolate • Sodium Ursolate • Ascorbyl Palmitate • Euphrasia Officinalis Extract • Echinacea Angustifolia Extract • Retinyl Palmitate • Diazolidinyl Urea • Imidazolidinyl Urea • CI 19140 • Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 • Methylparaben • CI 14700

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

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

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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

Garnier Hyalu-Melon Replumping Serum Cream SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 1.

Merle Norman Preventage Firming Defense Creme Normal/Dry Broad Spectrum SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 3.

2
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

Garnier Hyalu-Melon Replumping Serum Cream SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 2.

Merle Norman Preventage Firming Defense Creme Normal/Dry Broad Spectrum SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 4.

3
What it does: UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Octocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.

Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.

Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.

The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:

Learn more about Octocrylene

Garnier Hyalu-Melon Replumping Serum Cream SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 3.

Merle Norman Preventage Firming Defense Creme Normal/Dry Broad Spectrum SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 1.

4
What it does: UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.

Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.

Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.

However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.

Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!

The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.

Learn more about Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane

Garnier Hyalu-Melon Replumping Serum Cream SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 6.

Merle Norman Preventage Firming Defense Creme Normal/Dry Broad Spectrum SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 2.

5
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.

Garnier Hyalu-Melon Replumping Serum Cream SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 7.

Merle Norman Preventage Firming Defense Creme Normal/Dry Broad Spectrum SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 17.

6
What it does:
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Peg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.

Peg-100 Stearate helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. It helps prevent oil and water from separating in a product. By binding oil and water, it helps remove dirt and oil to be rinsed away.

Garnier Hyalu-Melon Replumping Serum Cream SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 8.

Merle Norman Preventage Firming Defense Creme Normal/Dry Broad Spectrum SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 19.

7
What it does: Abrasive, Absorbent
Community Rating: Disliked

Silica is a mineral naturally found in our skin. It helps to thicken and smooth the texture of a product. It also acts as an agent for other ingredients by increasing the absorption of other ingredients into the skin.

Silica is often used for absorption and can help reduce shine when products are applied. Silica occurs in naturally in materials like clay and sandstone, and it can also be produced synthetically.

Silica is present naturally within the skin during collagen production and when reducing inflammation.

Learn more about Silica

Garnier Hyalu-Melon Replumping Serum Cream SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 10.

Merle Norman Preventage Firming Defense Creme Normal/Dry Broad Spectrum SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 40.

8
What it does: Cleansing, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.

As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.

Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.

Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.

This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about Stearic Acid

Garnier Hyalu-Melon Replumping Serum Cream SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 11.

Merle Norman Preventage Firming Defense Creme Normal/Dry Broad Spectrum SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 11.

9
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.

Garnier Hyalu-Melon Replumping Serum Cream SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 12.

Merle Norman Preventage Firming Defense Creme Normal/Dry Broad Spectrum SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 49.

10
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

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

Garnier Hyalu-Melon Replumping Serum Cream SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 20.

Merle Norman Preventage Firming Defense Creme Normal/Dry Broad Spectrum SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 24.

11
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer is a silicone used to improve the texture of products and absorb oil. It does not get absorbed into the skin.

Like other silicones, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer helps condition the skin by creating a barrier. In this sense, it can act as an emollient and trap moisture in.

Garnier Hyalu-Melon Replumping Serum Cream SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 22.

Merle Norman Preventage Firming Defense Creme Normal/Dry Broad Spectrum SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 38.

12
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA

Garnier Hyalu-Melon Replumping Serum Cream SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 23.

Merle Norman Preventage Firming Defense Creme Normal/Dry Broad Spectrum SPF 15 contains this as ingredient number 46.

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

33% are loved or liked
4% have mixed ratings
59% are disliked or very disliked
4% have no rating yet
23% are loved or liked
6% have mixed ratings
45% are disliked or very disliked
26% have no rating yet

Usage

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

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Garnier Hyalu-Melon Replumping Serum Cream SPF 15.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 1 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Merle Norman Preventage Firming Defense Creme Normal/Dry Broad Spectrum SPF 15.

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