Paula's Choice Water-Infusing Electrolyte Moisturizer Versus Philosophy Hope In A Jar Water Cream Hyaluronic Glow Moisturizer
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientPotassium PCA
Humectant
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Calcium PCA
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Olivate
EmollientPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Biotin/Folic Acid/Cyanocobalamin/Niacinamide/Pantothenic Acid/Pyridoxine/Riboflavin/Thiamine/Yeast Polypeptides
Skin Conditioning
Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Serotina Fruit Extract
MaskingSqualane
Emollient
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-37
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Creatine
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Behenate
EmollientTribehenin
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Isohexadecane, Potassium PCA, Magnesium PCA, Calcium PCA, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-4 Olivate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Biotin/Folic Acid/Cyanocobalamin/Niacinamide/Pantothenic Acid/Pyridoxine/Riboflavin/Thiamine/Yeast Polypeptides, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Prunus Serotina Fruit Extract, Squalane, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Pisum Sativum Extract, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Tocopherol, Creatine, Bisabolol, Sorbitol, Inositol, Xylitol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Levulinate, Behenyl Behenate, Tribehenin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Methylpropanediol
SolventSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentParfum
Masking
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLaureth-3
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Limonene
Perfuming
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Silanetriol
Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Abrasive
Agave Americana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Parfum, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Laureth-3, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Limonene, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Silanetriol, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Agave Americana Leaf Extract, CI 42090, CI 17200
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDimethicone 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 GlycerinWater. 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
