Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 30 versus CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 .
Last updated on October 02, 2023. Published on May 17, 2021
Overview
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid and SPF
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 harsh alcohols and fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Sunscreen
Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.
Day Moisturizer
Day Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin during the daytime.
Price
Ingredient Info
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 30 32 ingredients
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 26 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:
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:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
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 Water Gel Lotion SPF 30 32 ingredients
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 26 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 5 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:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient 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 Water Gel Lotion SPF 30 32 ingredients
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 26 ingredients
Octocrylene 9% • Homosalate 5% • Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5% • Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1.5% • Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer • Alcohol Denat. • Blue 1 Lake • Caprylyl Methicone • Chlorphenesin • Dicaprylyl Carbonate • Diisopropyl Adipate • Dimethicone • Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Disodium EDTA • Glycerin • Glyceryl Stearate • Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid • Hydroxyacetophenone • Parfum • Pentylene Glycol • Phenoxyethanol • Polyurethane-62 • Silica • Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer • Sodium Hydroxide • Tocopheryl Acetate • Trideceth-6 • Benzophenone-3 4.5% • Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate • Menthyl Lactate • Hc Violet No. 2 • Water
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3% • Homosalate 10% • Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5% • Octocrylene 2.7% • Water • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Glyceryl Stearate Se • Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer • Glycerin • Pentylene Glycol • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Carbomer • Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Cholesterol • Phenoxyethanol • Disodium EDTA • Hydroxyacetophenone • Citric Acid • Phytosphingosine • Xanthan Gum • T-Butyl Alcohol • Ethylhexylglycerin
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.
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 Water Gel Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 1.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 4.
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 Water Gel Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 2.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 2.
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 Water Gel Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 3.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 3.
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 Water Gel Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 4.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 1.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTANeutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 14.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 20.
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 Water Gel Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 15.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 9.
Hydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant and helps with skin conditioning.
Antioxidants help fight off free-radical molecules. These unstable molecules may damage your skin cells. By helping stabilize free-radicals, antioxidants may help in anti-aging.
Hydroxyacetophenone boosts the efficiency of other preservatives.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneNeutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 18.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 21.
Pentylene 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 help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
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 GlycolNeutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 20.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 10.
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 Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 21.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 19.
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 Water Gel Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 55.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 contains this as ingredient number 5.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 30 32 ingredients
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 26 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 30 32 ingredients
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 26 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 30 32 ingredients
Brittskye157
Does it’s job
I think this is nothing complicated, does it’s job it’s lightweight, slippery, a little bit of a shine once dries down a little, it...
Does it’s job
I think this is nothing complicated, does it’s job it’s lightweight, slippery, a little bit of a shine once dries down a little, it doesn’t pill and my make up goes on top easily. Great product
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