Skin science article
Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator Versus Neutrogena Hydro Boost and Hydrating Hydrogel Mask
Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator Versus Neutrogena Hydro Boost and Hydrating Hydrogel Mask This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract to strengthen the skin barrier and hydra
Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator Versus Neutrogena Hydro Boost and Hydrating Hydrogel Mask
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This hydrating sheet mask is formulated around Chondrus Crispus Extract and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate skin and calm redness.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Dimethicone
Butylene Glycol
Glycerin
Trisiloxane
Trehalose
Saccharomyces Lysate Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
Silybum Marianum Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Polysaccharides
Sorbitol
Sodium Polyaspartate
Caffeine
Thermus Thermophillus Ferment
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Caprylyl Glycol
Sucrose
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Oleth-10
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Saccharide Isomerate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Tromethamine
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Disodium EDTA
PEG-8
Hexylene Glycol
Citric Acid
Sodium Citrate
Tocopheryl Acetate
BHT
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Phenoxyethanol
Sodium Benzoate
Potassium Sorbate
CI 14700
CI 19140
Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Trisiloxane, Trehalose, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Silybum Marianum Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Polysaccharides, Sorbitol, Sodium Polyaspartate, Caffeine, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Caprylyl Glycol, Sucrose, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Oleth-10, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Disodium EDTA, PEG-8, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 14700, CI 19140
Dipropylene Glycol
Propanediol
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
Xanthan Gum
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Chlorphenesin
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Potassium Chloride
Parfum
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Sucrose Cocoate
Tocopherol
Blue 1 Lake
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Xanthan Gum, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Chlorphenesin, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Chloride, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Sucrose Cocoate, Tocopherol, Blue 1 Lake
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!