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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Neutrogena Hydro Boost and Hydrating Hydrogel Mask versus Pacifica Pollution Fight Blue Algae Urban Defense Facial Mask .

Published on July 04, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe sheet masks. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

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

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Sheet Mask American Brand United States
Sheet Mask American Brand United States

Sheet Mask

Sheet masks are one-time use masks that go over the face. They are usually used after cleansing (depending on the product’s instructions).

Sheet Mask

Sheet masks are one-time use masks that go over the face. They are usually used after cleansing (depending on the product’s instructions).

Price

Shop

Buy Hydro Boost and Hydrating Hydrogel Mask

Starts at $2.77
Shop

Buy Pollution Fight Blue Algae Urban Defense Facial Mask

Starts at $0.67

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

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger
Rosacea
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Rosacea
Eczema
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Ingredients Side-by-side

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

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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

Neutrogena Hydro Boost and Hydrating Hydrogel Mask contains this as ingredient number 1.

Pacifica Pollution Fight Blue Algae Urban Defense Facial Mask contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

Neutrogena Hydro Boost and Hydrating Hydrogel Mask contains this as ingredient number 5.

Pacifica Pollution Fight Blue Algae Urban Defense Facial Mask contains this as ingredient number 3.

3
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.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost and Hydrating Hydrogel Mask contains this as ingredient number 9.

Pacifica Pollution Fight Blue Algae Urban Defense Facial Mask contains this as ingredient number 15.

4
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Parfum

Neutrogena Hydro Boost and Hydrating Hydrogel Mask contains this as ingredient number 11.

Pacifica Pollution Fight Blue Algae Urban Defense Facial Mask contains this as ingredient number 18.

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

33% are loved or liked
6% have mixed ratings
56% are disliked or very disliked
6% have no rating yet
44% are loved or liked
17% have mixed ratings
22% are disliked or very disliked
17% have no rating yet

Usage

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

When to use

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Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 24 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Neutrogena Hydro Boost and Hydrating Hydrogel Mask.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 16 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Pacifica Pollution Fight Blue Algae Urban Defense Facial Mask.

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