Versus

The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum - EU & Canada Versus Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer For Sensitive Skin

Serum
General Moisturizer
British Brand United Kingdom
American Brand United States

Updated on May 06, 2025

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin and scar healing

Free From

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

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

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

Benefits

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products

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
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

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 Glycol
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol 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.

Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.

A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.

When to use

1,502 Routines
49% use in am
50% use in pm
96% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
503 Routines
50% use in am
50% use in pm
97% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum 14 ingredients

3.4 /5
from 19 ratings
No Scent (8) Great Value (5) Absorbs Well (4)
ThomasvV's avatar

Thomas VV

11 months ago
Review

Give simple hydration, it's not as special as other Korean hyaluronic acid serums such as Torriden dive in or Isntree Hyaluronic acid toner, but it's still good and safe to use!

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#sticky
RAINSTORM's avatar

RAINSTORM

5 months ago
Review

(for context i have very dry sensitive-ish acne prone skin) this is a very good hydrating hyaluronic serum i really like it, didnt irritate my skin, hydrated my skin very very well, wish it was a bigger size though. would highly recommend.

#great value
#hydrating
#absorbs well
#sticky

Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer For Sensitive Skin 22 ingredients

3.3 /5
from 10 ratings
Light (3) Hydrating (3) Great Value (2)
115's avatar

115

2 years ago
Review

Super soothing moisturiser
I needed to repair my damaged skin barrier when I began adapalene treatment for acne. This felt so soothing and I've kept it in ever since. It plays well on my dry and acne prone skin in my PM and AM routines, I feel it helps keep my skin calm and hydrated alongside adapalene and the other actives in my routine.

Marimosa's avatar

Marimosa

2 years ago
Review

Gave me congested skin & was too greasy.
I really wanted this product to work but it really congested my skin. It also was greasy I was expecting it to really hydrate my skin but it didn't. it caused me more fungal acne as well.