Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 versus La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 AquaGel SPF30 .
Published on April 22, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both day moisturizers. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid, SPF and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, oils, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances and 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
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
Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 21 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 AquaGel SPF30 25 ingredients
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:
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 😥
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
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:
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 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 21 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 AquaGel SPF30 25 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 6 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:
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 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 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 21 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 AquaGel SPF30 25 ingredients
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 2% • Homosalate 4% • Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4% • Octocrylene 2% • Water • Glycerin • Caprylyl Methicone • Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer • Propylene Glycol • Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer • Phenoxyethanol • Glyceryl Stearate • Chlorphenesin • Tocopheryl Acetate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Disodium EDTA • Ethylhexylglycerin • Parfum • Sodium Hydroxide • Blue 1 Lake • CI 16035
Water • Glycerin • Octocrylene • Homosalate • Ethylhexyl Salicylate • Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane • Alcohol Denat. • Dimethicone • Pentylene Glycol • Drometrizole Trisiloxane • Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide • Ethylhexyl Triazone • Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer • Caprylyl Glycol • CI 42090 • Dextrin Palmitate • Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Panthenol • Phenoxyethanol • Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate • Sodium Hyaluronate • T-Butyl Alcohol • Tocopherol • Xanthan Gum • Parfum
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.
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneNeutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 1.
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 AquaGel SPF30 contains this as ingredient number 6.
Homosalate is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-B range (280nm - 320 nm), with a peak protection at 306 nm. It is internationally approved for use in sunscreens.
Homosalate is not photo-stable, meaning it's strength as a UV filter degrades over time with exposure to the sun. Because of this, it's often used in combination with other chemical sunscreen filters as avobenzone (which protects from the UV-A range). Homosalate also helps act as a solvent for harder-to-dissolve UV filters.
(Part of the reason that sunscreens need to be frequently re-applied is due to the photo instability of many chemical sunscreen filters)
Currently, homosalate is approved in concentrations up to 10% in the EU and 15% in the US. The FDA is currently doing further research on the effects of homosalate, and it is possible that these approved concentrations will change in the future.
Learn more about HomosalateNeutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 2.
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 AquaGel SPF30 contains this as ingredient number 4.
Ethylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateNeutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 3.
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 AquaGel SPF30 contains this as ingredient number 5.
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 OctocryleneNeutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 4.
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 AquaGel SPF30 contains this as ingredient number 3.
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 Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 5.
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 AquaGel SPF30 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 Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 6.
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 AquaGel SPF30 contains this as ingredient number 2.
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 City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 11.
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 AquaGel SPF30 contains this as ingredient number 19.
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 HyaluronateNeutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 15.
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 AquaGel SPF30 contains this as ingredient number 21.
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 ParfumNeutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 contains this as ingredient number 18.
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 AquaGel SPF30 contains this as ingredient number 25.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 21 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 AquaGel SPF30 25 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 21 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 AquaGel SPF30 25 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25 21 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 AquaGel SPF30 25 ingredients
medusa88
So expensive for a product which has alcohol in it..
I have a combination skin and it made my forehead so oily that I had to stop using it after...
So expensive for a product which has alcohol in it..
I have a combination skin and it made my forehead so oily that I had to stop using it after 2 weeks.
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Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Neutrogena Hydro Boost City Shield Water Gel SPF 25.
See 50 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 AquaGel SPF30.
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