Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 50 - US Versus Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Aqua Gel SPF 50
Updated on July 15, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both sunscreens. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, oils, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols and 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 Water Gel Lotion SPF 50 26 ingredients
Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Aqua Gel SPF 50 40 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 50 26 ingredients
Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Aqua Gel SPF 50 40 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Polyurethane-62
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentSodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Menthyl Lactate
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBasic Violet 2
Blue 1 Lake
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Caprylyl Methicone, Diisopropyl Adipate, Silica, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Polyurethane-62, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Menthyl Lactate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Trideceth-6, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Basic Violet 2, Blue 1 Lake
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientIsopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Ceteth-10
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMenthoxypropanediol
Masking
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Gentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Extract
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Seedcake Extract
Skin Protecting
Rosa Gallica Flower Extract
AstringentSorbitol
Humectant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Alcohol Denat., Diisopropyl Sebacate, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Propylene Glycol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Glycerin, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Tocopherol, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Ceteth-10, Caprylyl Glycol, Menthoxypropanediol, Dextrin Palmitate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, PEG-8 Laurate, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Myristic Acid, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Mentha Piperita Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Seedcake Extract, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Sorbitol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Citric Acid
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 GlycerinAlcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.
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 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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 50 26 ingredients
Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Aqua Gel SPF 50 40 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 50 26 ingredients
If you have oily skin, do not use!
It is super greasy and it feels impossible to apply enough without ending up like a disco ball.
It somehow always ends up in my eyes and burns like mad.
If you have dry skin, you may find it very hydrating.
As with most other Hydro Boost products, this is hydrating with a lovely light scent and pleasant gel consistency, plus the added benefit of leaving no cast at all. However, if it gets anywhere even remotely close to the eyes (and I mean remotely), said eyes will burn and sting until kingdom come.
