Walgreens Ultra Lightweight Night Facial Moisturizer Fragrance Free Versus Good Molecules Lightweight Daily Moisturizer
This barrier-repair night moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Butyrospermum Parkii Butter and Sodium Hyaluronate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCeteareth-20
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingDipotassium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Glucoside, Arachidyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Ceteareth-20, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Potassium Phosphate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Behenyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Water, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
