Versus

Numbuzin No.1 Purple Complex Moisture Balancing Soothing Cream Versus Cetaphil Gentle Clear Acne Mattifying Moisturizer

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

Updated on August 20, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain oils 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

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

Benefits

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
No.1 Purple Complex Moisture Balancing Soothing Cream

Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Water

Skin Conditioning

Glycereth-26

Humectant
0 / 0

Glycerin

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

Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate

Emollient

Cyclopentasiloxane

Emollient
Silicon Icon

Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Emollient
1 / 2

Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate

Skin Conditioning

Dimethicone

Emollient
1 / 0 Silicon Icon

Azulene

Skin Conditioning

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Trehalose

Humectant

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Glyceryl Stearate Citrate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Eclipta Prostrata Extract

Skin Conditioning

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Skin Conditioning

Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Disodium EDTA

Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract

Emollient

Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil

Emollient
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Corallina Officinalis Extract

Skin Conditioning

Glyceryl Glucoside

Humectant

Beta Vulgaris Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract

Skin Protecting

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Emollient
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Laminaria Japonica Extract

Skin Protecting

Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Centella Asiatica Extract

Cleansing
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Astringent

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Antimicrobial
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Bleaching
Good for Dark Spots Icon

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Masking
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Antimicrobial
Gentle Clear Acne Mattifying Moisturizer

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
Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.

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 Dimethicone
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, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

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.

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 EDTA
Astringent, Humectant, Soothing

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract comes from the Baikal skullcap or Chinese skullcap plant. This plant is native to Northeast Asia and can be found in China, Mongolia, Korea, and Siberia.

In cosmetics, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. This is due to the flavonoid composition of Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract.

In Chinese traditional folk medicine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract is used to help treat lung issues and hypertension.

Learn more about Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Bleaching, Emollient, Skin Conditioning

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.

One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.

Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.

Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.

Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.

Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

When to use

132 Routines
47% use in am
53% use in pm
96% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
133 Routines
56% use in am
44% use in pm
96% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Numbuzin No.1 Purple Complex Moisture Balancing Soothing Cream 50 ingredients

4.3 /5
from 4 ratings
Light (3) Absorbs Well (3) Hydrating (2)
MonicaJimenez_574's avatar

MonicaJimenez_574

1 year ago
Review

I’ve been wanting to try Numbuzin for a while, and this cream looked like the perfect fit for my sensitive, hormonal acne prone skin. While it’s not fungal acne safe, this moisturizer doesn’t have dimethicone until the 12th ingredient, and I haven’t found any issues with it so far. I enjoy how soothing this cream is to acne, and it helps to calm my breakouts! I also find it not clogging my pores Show more

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well
byebravelion's avatar

byebravelion

1 year ago
Review

I got this recommendation from the girls at Likeskin (Insta: @like_skincare) because I needed a moisturizer that suited my acne-prone (cheeks & chin), combination skin, plus flaky patches around my nose and mouth—and I probably have a sensitivity to fatty alcohols/fatty acids.

And this one? HIT. THE. SPOT. ✅ The first moisturizer that didn’t break me out! It’s lightweight, doesn’t clog my Show more

#great value
#light
#absorbs well
#no scent

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Acne Mattifying Moisturizer 37 ingredients

4.5 /5
from 2 ratings