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

Paula's Choice

Neutrogena

A face moisturizer, for barrier repair and smoothing.

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

Face moisturizer

14 ingredients

20 ingredients

Brand price

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

Brand price

Not recorded · brand's site

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Brand from United States

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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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Show highlights for:

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

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

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 →