Face Reality Skincare Hydrabalance Hydrating Gel Versus CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Face Reality Skincare Hydrabalance Hydrating Gel Versus CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum

This calming moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder to calm redness and hydrate skin.

This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Ceramide NP to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Carbomer

Maltodextrin

Phenethyl Alcohol

Caprylyl Glycol

Sodium Hydroxide

Alcohol Denat.

Sodium Hyaluronate

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder

Potassium Sorbate

Syringa Vulgaris Leaf Cell Culture Extract

Sodium Metabisulfite

Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract

Santalum Austrocaledonicum Wood Oil

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Hamamelis Virginiana Water

Lavandula Angustifolia Oil

Rosa Damascena Flower Oil

Citric Acid

Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract

Cananga Odorata Flower Oil

Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex

Totarol

Acetyl Tributyl Citrate

Alcohol

Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Phenyl T-Butylnitrone

Water, Glycerin, Carbomer, Maltodextrin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Potassium Sorbate, Syringa Vulgaris Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Santalum Austrocaledonicum Wood Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Citric Acid, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Totarol, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Alcohol, Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Phenyl T-Butylnitrone

Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate

Dimethicone

Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Panthenol

Ceramide NP

Ceramide AP

Ceramide EOP

Cetearyl Alcohol

Behentrimonium Methosulfate

Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate

Cholesterol

Phenoxyethanol

Disodium EDTA

Isopropyl Myristate

Xanthan Gum

Phytosphingosine

Ethylhexylglycerin

Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Ethylhexylglycerin

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.

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.

Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.

Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).

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.

Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.

Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.

However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.

Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.

In skincare formulas, citric acid can:

While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.

Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.

Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.

However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.

Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.

Topically, glycerin does several things at once:

Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.

Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.

This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.

Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Sodium 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.

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

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!

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