Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel Moisturizer vs Paula's Choice SHINE STOPPER Instant Matte Finish with MICROSPONGE Technology

Neutrogena

Paula's Choice

A face moisturizer built around Hyaluronic acid, for barrier repair and hydration.

A face moisturizer, for barrier repair and smoothing.

Face moisturizer

20 ingredients

14 ingredients

Brand price

Not recorded · brand's site

Brand price

USD 28.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site

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Brand from United States

Brand country not recorded

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At a Glance

They come out differently on Fragrance-free, EU-allergen-free, Pore-clogger-free and Cruelty-free; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.

Hyaluronic acid1
Hyaluronic acid and its salts; a humectant that binds water to the skin.
Sodium Hyaluronate

Fatty alcohol1
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Cetearyl Alcohol

Hydrating4
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate
Barrier Repair5
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
C13-14 Isoparaffin, Cetearyl Olivate, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Glycerin
Smoothing4
Refines rough or uneven texture.
C13-14 Isoparaffin, Cetearyl Olivate, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol
Anti-Pollution2
Helps defend against airborne pollutants.
Dimethicone, Glycerin

Hydrating3
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Glycerin
Barrier Repair6
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Myristyl Myristate
Smoothing4
Refines rough or uneven texture.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Myristyl Myristate
Anti-Pollution2
Helps defend against airborne pollutants.
Dimethicone, Glycerin

May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis4
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
C12-14 Pareth-12, Cetearyl Olivate, Laureth-7, Sorbitan Olivate
May Worsen Irritation1
May cause stinging, redness or sensitivity.
Fragrance
May Worsen Eczema1
May worsen itching or irritation for eczema-prone skin.
Fragrance
May Worsen Rosacea1
Can trigger flare-ups in rosacea-prone skin.
Fragrance

May Trigger Acne3
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis5
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Myristyl Myristate, PEG-100 Stearate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris3
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate
May Worsen Irritation3
May cause stinging, redness or sensitivity.
Benzyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Myristyl Myristate

Show highlights for:

Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone (in both products)
Emollient
1 / 0
- Silicones
- Barrier Repair
- Hydrating
- Smoothing
Glycerin (in both products)
Humectant
0 / 0
- Possibly animal-derived
- Hydrating
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
0-1 / —
- Silicones
Phenoxyethanol (in both products)
Preservative
0 / —
Polyacrylamide
Film Forming
Cetearyl Olivate
Emollient
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Dimethiconol
Emollient
0-1 / —
- Silicones
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient

Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Occlusive
1 / 1
Dimethicone (in both products)
Emollient
1 / 0
- Silicones
- Barrier Repair
- Hydrating
- Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
2 / 1
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Glycerin (in both products)
Humectant
0 / 0
- Possibly animal-derived
- Hydrating
PEG-100 Stearate
Cleansing
0 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Anticaking
0 / 0
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
1 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Possibly animal-derived
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
5 / 2
- Esters listed as pore-clogging in animal testing only
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Ceteareth-20
Cleansing
2 / 3
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Water
Antiplaque, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Learn more about Water →
Dimethicone
Antifoaming, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Skin Protecting
Dimethicone is a silicone.
Learn more about Dimethicone →
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care, Perfuming, Humectant, Skin Protecting, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Glycerin may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glycerin →
Phenoxyethanol
Antimicrobial, Preservative
Phenoxyethanol is the aromatic ether alcohol that conforms to the formula:
Learn more about Phenoxyethanol →