Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Neutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer US versus PCA Skin HydraLuxe .
Last updated on April 01, 2024. Published on January 14, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain niacinamide and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens 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
Neutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer 20 ingredients
PCA Skin HydraLuxe 40 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 🎉
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 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
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 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Neutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer 20 ingredients
PCA Skin HydraLuxe 40 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Neutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer 20 ingredients
PCA Skin HydraLuxe 40 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Dicaprylyl Ether • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Niacinamide • Cetyl Alcohol • Cetearyl Alcohol • Palmitic Acid • Stearic Acid • Phenoxyethanol • Dimethicone • Panthenol • Carbomer • Caprylyl Glycol • Ceteareth-20 • Sodium Hydroxide • Chlorphenesin • Sodium Citrate • Tocopheryl Acetate • Citric Acid
Water • Niacinamide • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Cetearyl Isononanoate • Dimethicone • C12-16 Alcohols • Glycerin • Pentylene Glycol • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Maltodextrin • Squalane • Palmitic Acid • Cetearyl Alcohol • Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Phenoxyethanol • C20-40 Alkyl Stearate • Cetyl Alcohol • Xanthan Gum • Caprylyl Glycol • Parfum • Behenyl Behenate • Chlorphenesin • Tribehenin • Cetyl Stearate • Isostearyl Isostearate • Potassium Cetyl Phosphate • Stearic Acid • Tocopherol • Betaine • Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract • Cichorium Intybus Leaf Extract • Hexylene Glycol • Sodium Phytate • Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract • Acetyl Glucosamine • Retinyl Palmitate • Coenochloris Signiensis Extract • Lecithin • Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
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 WaterNeutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer US contains this as ingredient number 1.
PCA Skin HydraLuxe contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 GlycerinNeutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer US contains this as ingredient number 2.
PCA Skin HydraLuxe contains this as ingredient number 7.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideNeutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer US contains this as ingredient number 4.
PCA Skin HydraLuxe contains this as ingredient number 3.
Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamideNeutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer US contains this as ingredient number 5.
PCA Skin HydraLuxe contains this as ingredient number 2.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Cetyl Alcohol is not related to SD alcohol, denatured alcohol, or ethyl alcohol. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Its main roles are:
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholNeutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer US contains this as ingredient number 6.
PCA Skin HydraLuxe contains this as ingredient number 18.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholNeutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer US contains this as ingredient number 7.
PCA Skin HydraLuxe contains this as ingredient number 13.
Palmitic Acid is a fatty acid found in our skin. In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It is a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
As an emollient, it helps hydrate the skin. The emulsifying properties keep ingredients together in a product.
Palmitic Acid may not be fungal-acne safe. It can worsen oily skin and cause breakouts due to its emollient nature.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidNeutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer US contains this as ingredient number 8.
PCA Skin HydraLuxe contains this as ingredient number 12.
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 AcidNeutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer US contains this as ingredient number 9.
PCA Skin HydraLuxe contains this as ingredient number 28.
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.
Neutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer US contains this as ingredient number 10.
PCA Skin HydraLuxe contains this as ingredient number 16.
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.
Neutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer US contains this as ingredient number 11.
PCA Skin HydraLuxe contains this as ingredient number 5.
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 GlycolNeutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer US contains this as ingredient number 14.
PCA Skin HydraLuxe contains this as ingredient number 20.
Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinNeutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer US contains this as ingredient number 17.
PCA Skin HydraLuxe contains this as ingredient number 23.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Neutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer 20 ingredients
PCA Skin HydraLuxe 40 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Neutrogena Daily Facial Moisturizer 20 ingredients
PCA Skin HydraLuxe 40 ingredients
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