Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Mary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel versus Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US .
Last updated on October 29, 2023. Published on July 01, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both general moisturizers. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin and sensitive skin
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, 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.
General Moisturizer
All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.
General Moisturizer
All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.
Ingredient Info
Mary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel 36 ingredients
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel 34 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Contains Parabens
Ingredients in this product that are types of parabens:
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Mary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel 36 ingredients
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel 34 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.
Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Mary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel 36 ingredients
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel 34 ingredients
Water • Dimethicone • Cyclopentasiloxane • Glycerin • Propylene Glycol • Cyclohexasiloxane • Betaine • Camellia Sinensis Extract • Algae Extract • Tocopheryl Acetate • Sodium PCA • Proline • Arginine • Glycine • Alanine • Lysine • Glutamic Acid • Serine • Threonine • Sorbitol • Butylene Glycol • Hydrogenated Polyisobutene • Glyceryl Polyacrylate • C13-14 Isoparaffin • Polyacrylamide • Peg-12 • Carbomer • Laureth-7 • Disodium EDTA • Benzophenone-4 • Triethanolamine • Phenoxyethanol • Methylparaben • DMDM Hydantoin • Basic Violet 2 • Curry Red
Water • Glycerin • Dimethicone • Cetearyl Olivate • Sorbitan Olivate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Serine • Glycine • Alanine • Threonine • Arginine • Proline • Lysine Hcl • Glutamic Acid • Sodium PCA • PCA • Sodium Lactate • Urea • Sodium Chloride • Citric Acid • Betaine • Allantoin • Fructose • Maltose • Trehalose • Glucose • Pentylene Glycol • Synthetic Beeswax • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 • Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Dimethiconol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Caprylyl Glycol • Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 WaterMary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel contains this as ingredient number 1.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 1.
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.
Mary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel contains this as ingredient number 2.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 3.
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 GlycerinMary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel contains this as ingredient number 4.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 2.
Betaine is a common humectant (a substance that promotes retention of moisture). It's known to be gentle on the skin and can help balance hydration.
Betaine is best for improving hydration and soothing irritated skin. Studies show betaine may help with uneven skin tones.
Betaine is naturally created in the skin and body. The form found within cosmetic products can be either plant-dervied or synthetic.
Learn more about BetaineMary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel contains this as ingredient number 7.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 21.
Sodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid and is naturally occurring on human skin.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
Sodium PCA is a has conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAMary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel contains this as ingredient number 11.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 15.
Proline is an amino-acid. It helps moisturize the skin and plays an important role in creating proteins.
Proline is one of the building blocks for producing collagen. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen. Collagen helps the skin look plump and firm.
In medicine, proline is used as an osmoprotectant. This means it helps prevent oxidative degradation in other drugs.
Our bodies are able to produce proline naturally, but certain conditions may inhibit this production. In that case, proline can be obtained from eating egg whites, soy protein, dairy products, asparagus, mushrooms, and seaweed.
Learn more about ProlineMary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel contains this as ingredient number 12.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 12.
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 ArginineMary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel contains this as ingredient number 13.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 11.
Glycine is an amino acid that helps build proteins. It is already present in our skin as our bodies produce them naturally.
Glycine helps keep skin hydrated and reduce signs of aging. Amino acids help transport moisture throughout our skin; glycine already plays a role in helping keep our skin moisturized.
As collagen is made up of glycine and other amino acids, it is believed Glycine may help our skin produce more collagen. Collagen helps keep skin plump and firm.
Learn more about GlycineMary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel contains this as ingredient number 14.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 8.
Alanine is an amino acid and is already found in the human body.
Alanine has antioxidant properties and can help with anti-aging.
Alanine is used by fibrous proteins such as collagen, elastin, and keratin. These three help make a strong skin barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier leads to more plump and youthful skin.
Learn more about AlanineMary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel contains this as ingredient number 15.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 9.
Glutamic Acid is an amino acid that is found in all living organisms. Humans use this glutamic acid to help nerve cells in the brain communicate with other cells.
As a humectant, glutamic acid helps moisturize the skin. Humectants draw moisture from the air to your skin.
Mary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel contains this as ingredient number 17.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 14.
Serine is an amino acid naturally found in our body. Our bodies use amino acids to create protein.
Amino-acids help give keep our skin hydrated. They play an important role in the skin barrier, which keeps the skin plump and firm.
Serine is a non-essential amino acid, meaning we don't need to obtain it from eating foods.
Learn more about SerineMary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel contains this as ingredient number 18.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 7.
Threonine is an amino-acid. It helps hydrate the skin and has antioxidant benefits.
Threonine is vital for creating collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin support youthful and firm skin. Our bodies decrease collagen production naturally with age.
Humans are not able to create threonine and must get it through eating foods such as fish, lentils, poultry, sesame seeds, and more.
Learn more about ThreonineMary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel contains this as ingredient number 19.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 10.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Mary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel 36 ingredients
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel 34 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Mary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel 36 ingredients
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel 34 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Mary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel 36 ingredients
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel 34 ingredients
jeanpaul2301
Great mosturizer!
Tried this out of curiosity with my mom, both of us were pleased with our results. She has normal to dry skin and I have combo...
Great mosturizer!
Tried this out of curiosity with my mom, both of us were pleased with our results. She has normal to dry skin and I have combo skin with fungal acne. She uses this everyday as soon as she gets out of the shower; without it her skin would feel dry as a desert. In my case, I put this on after using the Cetaphil daily facial cleanser. I know this product isn't fungal acne safe but I have combo skin, so I put it on the areas of my face that instead of having fungal acne, are kind of dry (mostly my cheeks, nose and neck). This moisturizer makes my skin feel refreshed, hydrated and healthy. It definitely has fragrance, but It's nice and light. I won't give it 5 stars just because it isn't fungal acne safe:)
cgi
I want to say I love it
This moisturizer isn’t even that bad, in fact it’s the first moisturizer that made my skin feel like a baby’s bum when I...
I want to say I love it
This moisturizer isn’t even that bad, in fact it’s the first moisturizer that made my skin feel like a baby’s bum when I first got into the skincare world. It made my skin smooth within a month or so. It’s very lightweight and looks clear when you put it on. When you apply it, you might have to protect your face because it does take a couple of minutes to absorb into your skin. Though it was formulated for dry/extremely dry skin, I bought this product even though I have oily skin because I’ve seen many dermatologists recommend it to those with dehydrated oily skin or just oily skin in general. It smells good, but since it does have fragrance I would not recommend this to those with sensitive skin. I love the way it feels on my face but I feel like it just doesn’t pair with the other skincare products I own. I only use this occasionally when my skin feels a little dehydrated. Other than that, I’d totally recommend this to those with dehydrated oily skin and extremely dry skin!
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 47 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Mary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel.
See 47 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US.
See 50 alternatives
