Philosophy Ultimate Miracle Worker Nighttime Serum-in-Cream Versus e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Face Cream - US
Updated on January 07, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain 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
Philosophy Ultimate Miracle Worker Nighttime Serum-in-Cream 58 ingredients
e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Face Cream 32 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Philosophy Ultimate Miracle Worker Nighttime Serum-in-Cream 58 ingredients
e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Face Cream 32 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Steareth-21
CleansingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Iris Pallida Root Extract
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Lecithin
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingRetinol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-8
HumectantPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
BHT
Antioxidant
Chitosan
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Acetic Acid
BufferingAngelica Archangelica Root Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Extract
MaskingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentLactic Acid
Buffering
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingBHA
Antioxidant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, Sodium Citrate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alcohol Denat., Steareth-21, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Steareth-2, Citric Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Iris Pallida Root Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja Oil, Alcohol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Lecithin, Parfum, Adenosine, Cellulose Gum, Retinol, PEG-8, Polysorbate 20, BHT, Chitosan, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycolic Acid, Sorbitan Oleate, Tocopherol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Limonene, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Potassium Phosphate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Acetic Acid, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Extract, Maltodextrin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Lactic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sclerotium Gum, BHA, Sorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientStearyl Heptanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Olivate
Trehalose
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Polyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Isohexadecane, Stearyl Heptanoate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Trehalose, Squalane, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Panthenol, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyethylene, Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer
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 GlycerinCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholPhenoxyethanol 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.
Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.
Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.
The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.
Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Ethylhexylglycerin (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.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Philosophy Ultimate Miracle Worker Nighttime Serum-in-Cream 58 ingredients
e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Face Cream 32 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Philosophy Ultimate Miracle Worker Nighttime Serum-in-Cream 58 ingredients
e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Face Cream 32 ingredients
Great moisturizer! Definitely does the job in the hydration department. However, the texture feels pretty greasy to me and has a bit of oiliness to it that I don’t really enjoy sitting on my skin until it absorbs. Fortunately, though, it does absorb pretty nicely & quickly without leaving any pilling behind!
You‘ll get pimples if you have oily- combo skin
Every time when I used this, I got pimples the other day. Fragrance ist too strong and doesn’t hydrate much. I don’t recommend it.
