Urban Skin Radiant & Bright Glowing Moisturizer Versus e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Hydro-gel Moisturizer
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils
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
Urban Skin Radiant & Bright Glowing Moisturizer 23 ingredients
e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Hydro-gel Moisturizer 40 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
Urban Skin Radiant & Bright Glowing Moisturizer 23 ingredients
e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Hydro-gel Moisturizer 40 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate-13
Squalane
Emollient
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Polyisobutene
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Xylitol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Polyacrylate-13, Squalane, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Polyisobutene, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Collagen Amino Acids, Polysorbate 20, Xylitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alpha-Arbutin, Glutathione, Kojic Acid, Niacinamide, Azelaic Acid, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide 3
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide 6 Ii
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide 1
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Diisostearyl Malate, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6 Ii, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ceramide 1, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Lecithin, Xylitol, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Phytosphingosine, Polysorbate 20, Cholesterol, Geraniol, Linalool, Parfum
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 WaterPhenoxyethanol 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.
Xylitylglucoside is created from xylitol and glucose, two humectants.
Not surprisingly, this ingredient is also a humectant. It attracts and holds water in your skin, helping to maintain hydration.
This ingredient is most commonly found in a popular trio called Aquaxyl. Aquaxyl is made up of anhydroxylitol(24 - 34%), xylitylglucoside (35 - 50%), and xylitol (5 - 15%).
According to a manufacturer, Aquaxyl is known for a 3-D hydration concept and an anti-dehydration shield to reinforce the outer layer of skin.
Learn more about XylitylglucosideThis ingredient is created from dehydrating xylitol in acidic conditions. Xylitol is a famous sugar and humectant.
Much like its predecessor, anhydroxylitol is a humectant. Humectants attract and hold water to moisturize the skin.
This ingredient is most commonly found in a popular trio called Aquaxyl. Aquaxyl is made up of anhydroxylitol (24 - 34%), xylitylglucoside (35 - 50%), and xylitol (5 - 15%).
According to a manufacturer, Aquaxyl is known for a 3-D hydration concept and an anti-dehydration shield to reinforce the outer layer of skin.
This ingredient is often derived from plants such as wood and sugarcane.
Learn more about AnhydroxylitolPolysorbate 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 20Xylitol is a humectant and prebiotic. It can help with dry skin.
In studies, xylitol has been shown to improve dry skin. It decreased transepidermal water loss, or when water passes through the skin and evaporates. Xylitol also showed to help improve the biomechanical properties of the skin barrier.
The prebiotic property of xylitol may also help reinforce our skin's natural microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome prevents infection by bad bacteria and helps with hydration.
As a humectant, Xylitol helps draw moisture from both the air and from deeper skin layers. This helps keep skin hydrated.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol and commonly used as a sugar substitute. It is naturally occurring in plants such as strawberries and pumpkin.
Learn more about XylitolEthylhexylglycerin (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.
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 HyaluronateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Urban Skin Radiant & Bright Glowing Moisturizer 23 ingredients
e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Hydro-gel Moisturizer 40 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Urban Skin Radiant & Bright Glowing Moisturizer 23 ingredients
e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Hydro-gel Moisturizer 40 ingredients
I like but don't love this moisturizer, although I'm on my second bottle. Despite having gel in the name, it's not a gel. It's a light cream moisturizer that feels nice, has some nice anti-aging ingredients, and does what it says on the can. I wish it wasn't scented. I keep using it because I like the airless pump packaging and it's cheap.
