Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The INKEY List Multi-Biotic Moisturizer versus Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US .

Last updated on October 29, 2023. Published on July 20, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

General Moisturizer British Brand United Kingdom
General Moisturizer American Brand United States

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

Price

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Buy Multi-Biotic Moisturizer

Starts at $12.99
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Buy Hydro Boost Water Gel

Starts at $19.99

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema

Benefits

Hydrating (4)
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Skin Texture
Scar Healing
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
Acne Trigger
Rosacea (2)
Eczema
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

The INKEY List Multi-Biotic Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 1.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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

The INKEY List Multi-Biotic Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 3.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Cetearyl Olivate is an emulsifier and texture enhancer. It is derived from the fatty acids of olive oil and Cetearyl alcohol, and is biodegradable.

As an emulsifier, it is used to prevent oils and waters from separating. It can also

Manufacturers use the name Olivem 1000. This ingredient has been found to preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria. This ingredient is grouped with Sorbitan Olivate under the name Olivem 1000.

Learn more about Cetearyl Olivate

The INKEY List Multi-Biotic Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 7.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 4.

4
What it does: Emulsifying
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Sorbitan Olivate is created from the fatty acids in olive oil and sorbitol.

Sorbitan Olivate is an oil in water emulsifier. It helps stabilize a product by preventing oils and waters from separating. Sorbitan Olivate also helps hydrate the skin.

Manufacturers sell sorbitan olivate under the name OliveM 1000. OliveM 1000 a multifunctional ingredient. It is self-emulsifying. According to a manufacturer, OliveM 1000 does not disrupt natural skin biome.

Learn more about Sorbitan Olivate

The INKEY List Multi-Biotic Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 8.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 5.

5
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

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

The INKEY List Multi-Biotic Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 16.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 6.

6
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

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.

The INKEY List Multi-Biotic Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 18.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 32.

7
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

The INKEY List Multi-Biotic Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 23.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel US contains this as ingredient number 20.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

32% are loved or liked
7% have mixed ratings
43% are disliked or very disliked
18% have no rating yet
59% are loved or liked
12% have mixed ratings
26% are disliked or very disliked
3% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

The INKEY List Multi-Biotic Moisturizer 28 ingredients

Multi-Biotic Moisturizer hasn't been rated yet.
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Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel 34 ingredients

2.8 /5
from 15 reviews
jeanpaul2301's Avatar'
Jul 9, 2021

Great mosturizer!
Tried this out of curiosity with my mom, both of us were pleased with our results. She has normal to dry skin and I have combo skin with fungal acne. She uses this everyday as soon as she gets out of the shower; without...

Great mosturizer!
Tried this out of curiosity with my mom, both of us were pleased with our results. She has normal to dry skin and I have combo skin with fungal acne. She uses this everyday as soon as she gets out of the shower; without it her skin would feel dry as a desert. In my case, I put this on after using the Cetaphil daily facial cleanser. I know this product isn't fungal acne safe but I have combo skin, so I put it on the areas of my face that instead of having fungal acne, are kind of dry (mostly my cheeks, nose and neck). This moisturizer makes my skin feel refreshed, hydrated and healthy. It definitely has fragrance, but It's nice and light. I won't give it 5 stars just because it isn't fungal acne safe:)

Region: US
JohnnyLeeZongHeng_352's Avatar'
Mar 31, 2023

Overrated moisturizer and it's expensive
I've used three tubs of this and my skin has gotten worse. The first two I noticed my skin gotten oilier than usual, but I want to trust the process like any other people. But I got a breakout on...

Overrated moisturizer and it's expensive
I've used three tubs of this and my skin has gotten worse. The first two I noticed my skin gotten oilier than usual, but I want to trust the process like any other people. But I got a breakout on my third tub so I switched to other products and my skin has gotten so much better. This is definitely not for oily skin that needs sebum control..

Region: US
cgi's Avatar'
May 3, 2021

I want to say I love it
This moisturizer isn’t even that bad, in fact it’s the first moisturizer that made my skin feel like a baby’s bum when I first got into the skincare world. It made my skin smooth within a month or so. It’s very...

I want to say I love it
This moisturizer isn’t even that bad, in fact it’s the first moisturizer that made my skin feel like a baby’s bum when I first got into the skincare world. It made my skin smooth within a month or so. It’s very lightweight and looks clear when you put it on. When you apply it, you might have to protect your face because it does take a couple of minutes to absorb into your skin. Though it was formulated for dry/extremely dry skin, I bought this product even though I have oily skin because I’ve seen many dermatologists recommend it to those with dehydrated oily skin or just oily skin in general. It smells good, but since it does have fragrance I would not recommend this to those with sensitive skin. I love the way it feels on my face but I feel like it just doesn’t pair with the other skincare products I own. I only use this occasionally when my skin feels a little dehydrated. Other than that, I’d totally recommend this to those with dehydrated oily skin and extremely dry skin!

Region: US

Alternatives

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