Versus

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Gel Cream Versus CommonLabs Vitamin C Brightening Gel Cream

General Moisturizer
General Moisturizer
Korean Brand South Korea
Korean Brand South Korea

Updated on March 14, 2025

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 7 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, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

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

What's Inside

They both contain oils

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

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Gel Cream
Vitamin C Brightening Gel Cream

Water

Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Hippophae Rhamnoides Water

Masking
Fragrance Icon

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Niacinamide

Smoothing
Niacinamide IconGood for Oily Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Tromethamine

Buffering

Citrus Junos Peel Oil

Astringent
Oil Icon

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Skin Conditioning
Vitamin C IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores Icon

Trehalose

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Emulsifying
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate

Skin Conditioning

Sorbitan Isostearate

Emulsifying
1-2 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Ceramide NP

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Panthenol

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Saccharide Isomerate

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Mandelic Acid

Antimicrobial
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Ascorbic Acid

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Dextrin

Absorbent

Polyglutamic Acid

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract

Cosmetic Colorant

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract

Astringent

Sodium Citrate

Buffering

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Melilotus Officinalis Extract

Astringent

Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract

Skin Conditioning

Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract

Skin Protecting
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Prunus Persica Fruit Extract

Abrasive
Exfoliant Icon

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract

Astringent

Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract

Emollient

Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract

Astringent

Citrus Junos Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Limonene

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Linalool

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

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
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse. 

It is a:

  • Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
  • Emollient, helping to soften skin
  • Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
  • Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives 
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
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

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

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

Learn more about Butylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

When to use

1,449 Routines
53% use in am
48% use in pm
97% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
1 Routine
100% use in am
0% use in pm
100% use every day

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Gel Cream 39 ingredients

3.7 /5
from 51 ratings
Hydrating (27) No Scent (25) Light (20)
skinogre's avatar

skinogre

1 year ago
Review

SO SO SO SO SO GOOD. Not only does it make my skin look like glass, it moistens my skin without having oil residue and breakouts, I literally moan while putting it on because it feels so silky and smooth. I really love it, it has a perfect consistency, leaves me moistened the whole day and is infused with five different hyaluronic acids and if you don’t know isntree is THE it brand for hyaluronic Show more

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

AnaHuynh

2 years ago
Review

AMAZING
This is the best lightweight moisturizer for combo/oily skin! But it is more better for oily skin. For me, my cheeks are usually dry because I have combo skin, so it does less well for that patch, I just add another layer in that area. But it’s only a little problem, and is AWESOME FOR THE REST OF MY FACE. It’s good because it’s lightweight, non sticky AND MOISTURIZING. It did not clog Show more

CommonLabs Vitamin C Brightening Gel Cream 47 ingredients

Vitamin C Brightening Gel Cream hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now