Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Moisturiser Versus Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Ultra-Gentle Facial Moisturizer
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeStearic Acid
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPetrolatum
EmollientGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientIsopropyl Isostearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCyclotetrasiloxane
EmollientPEG-10 Soy Sterol
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDiazolidinyl Urea
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Glycine Soja Sterols, Isopropyl Isostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cyclotetrasiloxane, PEG-10 Soy Sterol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Carbomer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Diazolidinyl Urea, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water