Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum versus Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer™ Skin Balancing Hydration Serum .
Published on June 14, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid
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 oils, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols, common allergens, 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.
Price
Ingredient Info
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum 30 ingredients
Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer™ Skin Balancing Hydration Serum 59 ingredients
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:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are 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:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are 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 Hydrating Serum 30 ingredients
Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer™ Skin Balancing Hydration Serum 59 ingredients
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 Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum 30 ingredients
Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer™ Skin Balancing Hydration Serum 59 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Dimethicone • Butylene Glycol • Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate • Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate • Isododecane • Dimethiconol • Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • Ethylhexylglycerin • Benzyl Alcohol • Sodium Lactate • Cetearyl Olivate • Bisabolol • Chlorphenesin • Sorbitan Olivate • Sodium PCA • Parfum • Sodium Hyaluronate • Acrylates Copolymer • Sorbitol • Chondrus Crispus Extract • Sodium Hydroxide • Proline • Portulaca Oleracea Extract • Propylene Glycol • Citric Acid • Magnesium Aspartate • Zinc Gluconate • Copper Gluconate
Water • Dimethicone • Butylene Glycol • Glycerin • Niacinamide • Trisiloxane • Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate • Trehalose • Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract • Cholesterol • Ceramide Ng • Linoleic Acid • Salicylic Acid • Lactic Acid • Glycolic Acid • Citric Acid • Algae Extract • Saccharomyces Lysate Extract • Betula Alba Bark Extract • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Thermus Thermophillus Ferment • Laminaria Saccharina Extract • Silybum Marianum Extract • Caffeine • Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane • Acetyl Glucosamine • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sorbitol • Sodium Magnesium Silicate • Peg-8 • Sucrose • T-Butyl Alcohol • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 • Oleth-10 • Carbomer • Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer • Xanthan Gum • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Jojoba Wax Peg-120 Esters • Sodium Hydroxide • Tromethamine • Di-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride • Silica • Parfum • Benzyl Salicylate • Limonene • Linalool • CI 77891 • Synthetic Fluorphlogopite • Tin Oxide • Mica • Caprylyl Glycol • BHT • Disodium EDTA • Hexylene Glycol • Tocopheryl Acetate • Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate • Phenoxyethanol • Sodium Benzoate
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 Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer™ Skin Balancing Hydration Serum 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 Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer™ Skin Balancing Hydration Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
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 Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer™ Skin Balancing Hydration Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer™ Skin Balancing Hydration Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
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 Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.
Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer™ Skin Balancing Hydration Serum contains this as ingredient number 44.
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 Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.
Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer™ Skin Balancing Hydration Serum contains this as ingredient number 27.
Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a hydrating and moisturizing agent created from the reduction process of glucose.
Most sorbitol is usually made from potato starch. It is also found in fruits such as apples and pears.
As a humectant, Sorbitol helps draw water to the skin. This helps keep the skin hydrated. Sorbitol also helps create a thicker texture in products. You might find sorbitol in your toothpaste and other gels.
It is a non-irritating ingredient that is great for those with dry skin.
Sorbitol is a prebiotic. It helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria on your skin. The bacteria on your skin form a microbiome. This microbiome helps protect your skin from infection and harmful bacteria.
Learn more about SorbitolNeutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.
Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer™ Skin Balancing Hydration Serum contains this as ingredient number 28.
Sodium 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 HydroxideNeutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.
Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer™ Skin Balancing Hydration Serum contains this as ingredient number 40.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
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.
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 look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidNeutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 27.
Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer™ Skin Balancing Hydration Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum 30 ingredients
Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer™ Skin Balancing Hydration Serum 59 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum 30 ingredients
Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer™ Skin Balancing Hydration Serum 59 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 23 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum.
See 23 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 19 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Mac Cosmetics Hyper Real Serumizer™ Skin Balancing Hydration Serum.
See 19 alternatives