Versus

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel - UK Versus APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Facial Cream

General Moisturizer
General Moisturizer
American Brand United States
Korean Brand South Korea

Updated on October 29, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 7 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 common allergens, parabens 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 needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Glutathione Niacinamide Facial Cream

Water

Skin Conditioning

Centella Asiatica Extract 22.7%

Cleansing
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate

Emollient

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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 Water
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

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 Glycerin
Skin Conditioning

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.

Humectant, Skin Conditioning

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 Hyaluronate
Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Betaine is a common humectant (a substance that promotes retention of moisture). It's known to be gentle on the skin and can help balance hydration.

This ingredient is best for improving hydration and soothing irritated skin. Studies also show it helps even out skin tone.

Fun fact: Betaine is naturally created in the skin and body. The kind found within cosmetic products can be either plant-derived or synthetic.

Learn more about Betaine
Humectant, Moisturising

Trehalose 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 Trehalose
Buffering, Masking

Citric 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 Acid

When to use

40 Routines
50% use in am
50% use in pm
100% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
31 Routines
45% use in am
55% use in pm
97% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel 38 ingredients

3.2 /5
from 35 ratings
Light (13) Absorbs Well (10) Strong Scent (9)
lambkin's avatar

lambkin

1 year ago
Review

for non-acne prone skin, im sure itd be good but it broke me out after using it once😭😭

#broke me out
#light
#doesn't work
Glowy_nes's avatar

Glowy_nes

1 year ago
Review

I like this gel cream. I love the gel texture that doesn’t feel heavy nor oily on the skin. As someone who lives in a hot and dry environment (Mediterranean), this gel really is a life saver in the summer months! The gel goes smothly on the face and absorbs really fast and well. I have normal to combination skin, and i never feel too oily not dry, but hydrated. As a plus, it goes smoothly under Show more

#light
#absorbs well
#light scent

APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Facial Cream 47 ingredients

4.7 /5
from 3 ratings
Absorbs Well (3) Great Value (3) Hydrating (2)
nubela2020's avatar

nubela2020

9 months ago
Review

This cream is absolutely amazing.. i think this brand is still new, so not many people now about it. But this cream is very good. My skin is very dry, and this cream is hydrate and moisture my skin from night until i wakeup in the morning. And after i wash my face, it's still feel moist. And it's brighten my skin..

#great value
#hydrating
#absorbs well
#no scent
RemiShen's avatar

Remi Shen

23 days ago
Review

This cream has a nice texture. My biggest issue is that it's too thin for my extremely dry skin. I used it in the morning, and my skin felt dry about an hour later. I tend to prefer heavier creams because they give more lasting moisture. I've been trying out lighter creams since I've had some success, but this one didn't work out. I gave it to my husband, who enjoyed it, but he has oily skin.

#great value
#light
#absorbs well