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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser versus Derma E Ultra Hydrating Alkaline Cloud Cleanser .

Published on August 18, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, 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.

Face Cleanser American Brand United States
Face Cleanser American Brand United States

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Price

Shop

Buy Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser

Starts at $33.00
Shop

Buy Ultra Hydrating Alkaline Cloud Cleanser

Starts at $12.76

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

Benefits

Hydrating
Brightening

Concerns

Rosacea
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Exfoliators
Hyaluronic Acid

Concerns

Rosacea
Eczema (2)
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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 Water Gel Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

Derma E Ultra Hydrating Alkaline Cloud Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
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 Water Gel Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 9.

Derma E Ultra Hydrating Alkaline Cloud Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 13.

3
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 Water Gel Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 10.

Derma E Ultra Hydrating Alkaline Cloud Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 14.

4
What it does: Emulsifying
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.

As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.

Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.

The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.

Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.

Learn more about Polysorbate 20

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 13.

Derma E Ultra Hydrating Alkaline Cloud Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 11.

5
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 17.

Derma E Ultra Hydrating Alkaline Cloud Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 12.

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

22% are loved or liked
11% have mixed ratings
50% are disliked or very disliked
17% have no rating yet
21% are loved or liked
14% have mixed ratings
50% are disliked or very disliked
14% 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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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser 18 ingredients

2.8 /5
from 4 ratings
Aishaxy's avatar

Aishaxy

7 months ago · Unsure Skin
Review

dried my skin
I tried 2 products from this line, and they stripped my skin. I totaly ruined it and took me 3 month before I realized its from hydro...

dried my skin
I tried 2 products from this line, and they stripped my skin. I totaly ruined it and took me 3 month before I realized its from hydro boost neutrogena. I had dry patches on my cheeks, my texture worsned and I thought its because of my maturing and changing skin.

USAFGal09's avatar

USAFGal09

1 year ago · Oily Skin
Review

Super Nice...
This is a good cleanser as a 2nd step in double cleansing. I use it in the evenings to ensure all my makeup is removed. It does not...

Super Nice...
This is a good cleanser as a 2nd step in double cleansing. I use it in the evenings to ensure all my makeup is removed. It does not strip my skin and doesn't irritate it either. There are others I prefer, but this is one of my favorites from the drugstore.

Derma E Ultra Hydrating Alkaline Cloud Cleanser 14 ingredients

Ultra Hydrating Alkaline Cloud Cleanser hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 3 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Derma E Ultra Hydrating Alkaline Cloud Cleanser.

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