Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Crème - Australia Versus Cetaphil Optimal Hydration Skin Replenishing Water Gel
Updated on April 01, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 13 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, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, 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 needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Crème 39 ingredients
Cetaphil Optimal Hydration Skin Replenishing Water Gel 34 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Crème 39 ingredients
Cetaphil Optimal Hydration Skin Replenishing Water Gel 34 ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantFructose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
BufferingUrea
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
PCA
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMaltose
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Serine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingSodium Chloride
Masking
Trehalose
HumectantGlycine
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glutamic Acid
HumectantLysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Threonine
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantProline
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Betaine, Dimethicone, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Fructose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, PCA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Maltose, Ceramide NP, Serine, Alanine, Sodium Chloride, Trehalose, Glycine, Allantoin, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Arginine, Threonine, Tropolone, Glucose, Proline
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
SolventPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Octyldodecanol
EmollientSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantUrea
Buffering
Xylitol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPantolactone
HumectantAlgin
Masking
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Pullulan
Globularia Alypum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Octyldodecanol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglutamic Acid, Allantoin, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Distarch Phosphate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trehalose, Urea, Xylitol, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Serine, Sodium Hydroxide, Pantolactone, Algin, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Globularia Alypum Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Phosphate
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGlycerin 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 GlycerinCaprylyl 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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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 HyaluronateUrea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.
As a humectant, urea helps draw moisture from the air and from deep within the skin. This helps hydrate your skin. Studies show urea is an effective moisturizer for dry skin conditions. 40% urea is typical in medications for treating eczema and other skin conditions.
Urea has the strongest exfoliation effect in concentrations higher than 10%. It is a keratolytic agent, meaning it breaks down the keratin protein in the top layer of skin. This helps remove dead skin cells and flaking skin.
In medicine, urea has been shown to help increase the potency of other ingredients, such as fungal treatments.
Humans and animals use urea to metabolize nitrogen-containing compounds. Urea is highly soluble in water. Once dissolved, it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Learn more about UreaSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideCitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric Acid1,2-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
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 SerineTrehalose 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 TrehaloseAllantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.
Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.
Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Learn more about AllantoinIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Crème 39 ingredients
Cetaphil Optimal Hydration Skin Replenishing Water Gel 34 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Crème 39 ingredients
Cetaphil Optimal Hydration Skin Replenishing Water Gel 34 ingredients
Pro:
- affordable
- drugstore (so easy to found)
- urea
Cons:
- did not hydrate my skin as much as I thought (I needed another hydrating lotion, but was using Vit C during the day and retinol during the night)
- super sticky
- makes skin super shiny.
Will only buy during summer months when I am desperate
Too sticky for me. Hard to apply evenly on dry skin. Doesn’t feel like it absorbed by my skin, it just stay on surface and make my face looking more oily on T-Zone
