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How we build Hydrate Facial Moisturizer

The original, what makes it special, the shelf parts we use and how to get closer. Add or swap parts and the score updates.

HYDRATE

The original · Obagi

Hydrate Facial Moisturizer

$70 · 1.0 oz

Glycerin and saccharide isomerate pull water into the skin, while tara seed extract forms a light film that slows water loss.

Official product page (opens in new tab)

Prices and listings checked Oct 28, 2026. Amazon prices change; the link shows today's price.

Step 2 · The build

Our build 3 parts

Light day cream + richer night cream

  • Illustration of Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer

    Vanicream

    Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer

    Light AM moisturizer

    ATara seed extract · 5 of 20BGlycerin and saccharide isomerate · 13 of 25CShea and mango butters with avocado oil · 6 of 25DSoy sterols with panthenol, allantoin and bisabolol · 10 of 20
    $13.99Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
  • Illustration of CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream

    CeraVe

    CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream

    Shea and saccharide isomerate cream (PM)

    ATara seed extract · 5 of 20BGlycerin and saccharide isomerate · 25CShea and mango butters with avocado oil · 13 of 25DSoy sterols with panthenol, allantoin and bisabolol · 15 of 20ETetrahydrocurcumin and vitamin E · 5 of 10
    $15.49Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
  • Illustration of First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

    First Aid Beauty

    First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

    Adds: Shea and mango butters with avocado oil

    ATara seed extract · 5 of 20BGlycerin and saccharide isomerate · 13 of 25CShea and mango butters with avocado oil · 19 of 25DSoy sterols with panthenol, allantoin and bisabolol · 10 of 20ETetrahydrocurcumin and vitamin E · 3 of 10
    $20View product (opens in new tab)

    Not an affiliate link.

Partial credit means the part only partly matches that standout.

The 100 points

What stands out 100 pts

We split Hydrate Facial Moisturizer into 5 standout parts. Each bar shows what the build earns.

  • ATara seed extract5 of 20 pts

    Obagi's headline hydrator: a plant gum film that holds water in the skin.

    No close retail equivalent: we credit at most 50% of these points.

  • BGlycerin and saccharide isomerate25 of 25 pts

    Humectants that draw water into the top layer of skin and keep it there.

    Shao 2025 · The Journal of Dermatologic…
  • CShea and mango butters with avocado oil19 of 25 pts

    Rich emollients that soften dry, rough patches and slow water loss.

    Nguyen 2023 · J Drugs Dermatol
  • DSoy sterols with panthenol, allantoin and bisabolol15 of 20 pts

    Plant sterols support barrier lipids, and the soothers calm dry, tight skin.

    Ebner 2002 · Am J Clin Dermatol
  • ETetrahydrocurcumin and vitamin E5 of 10 pts

    Antioxidants that help protect the formula and the skin surface.

Optional

Get closer score under 80

69 / 100. We have not found a shelf product that closes more of the gap yet.

90 is our ceiling. Tara seed extract has no close retail equivalent, so we cap it at 50% credit.

Step 3 · Buy

Buy the build

One link per part. Each opens the retailer in a new tab.

Skincare SuppliesOct 28, 2026

Your build

  1. 01VanicreamVanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer$13.99

    Running total $13.99

    Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
  2. 02CeraVeCeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream$15.49

    Running total $29.48

    Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
  3. 03First Aid BeautyFirst Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream$20

    Running total $49.48

    View product (opens in new tab)

    Not an affiliate link.

Build total$49.48
The splurge$70
Match69/100
You keep$20.52

Snapshot prices. Each link shows today's price.

How to use

  1. Patch test any new active on the inner forearm or behind the ear for 24-48 hours first. Use the Vanicream moisturizer in the morning under sunscreen and the CeraVe night cream in the evening on clean skin.
  2. Add First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream: A shea butter and glycerin cream with oat and allantoin to calm dry skin. It covers the butter and comfort side of the Obagi formula. It contains eucalyptus oil, which some sensitive skin dislikes.

Other single-product swaps

One bottle instead of a build. Sorted by match score; scores use the same standouts as above.

budget Closest we found

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream

CeraVe

Match score 63 out of 100

No close match yet — we show the nearest formulas.

$15.49 · 1.7 ozSave $54.51
What it shares, what it misses

Shares

  • Glycerin
  • Saccharide isomerate
  • Shea butter
  • Caprylic/capric triglyceride
  • Soybean sterols
  • Allantoin
  • Tocopherol

Misses

  • Tara seed extract
  • Mango butter and avocado oil
  • Tetrahydrocurcumin
  • Bisabolol

Why it is close. Shares an unusually close base: glycerin, shea butter, saccharide isomerate and soybean sterols, plus allantoin and vitamin E. It adds ceramides, niacinamide and peptides. It is richer than the Obagi cream, so it suits dry skin or night use best.

Ingredient list source

Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
budget

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

First Aid Beauty

Match score 50 out of 100
$20 · 2 oz
What it shares, what it misses

Shares

  • Glycerin
  • Shea butter
  • Caprylic/capric triglyceride
  • Squalane
  • Allantoin
  • Colloidal oatmeal

Misses

  • Tara seed extract
  • Saccharide isomerate
  • Soybean sterols
  • Tetrahydrocurcumin

Why it is close. A shea butter and glycerin cream with oat and allantoin to calm dry skin. It covers the butter and comfort side of the Obagi formula. It contains eucalyptus oil, which some sensitive skin dislikes.

Ingredient list source

View product (opens in new tab)

Not an affiliate link.

budget

Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer

Vanicream

Match score 34 out of 100
$13.99
What it shares, what it misses

Shares

  • Glycerin
  • Phytosterols
  • Squalane (emollient)

Misses

  • Tara seed extract
  • Shea and mango butter
  • Saccharide isomerate
  • Tetrahydrocurcumin

Why it is close. A light, fragrance-free daily moisturizer with glycerin, squalane, plant sterols and five ceramides. It hydrates well but has no butters or film-forming humectant.

Ingredient list source

Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)

What the science says

Full ingredient list

Show the INCI list

Aqua/water/eau, glycerin, caprylic/capric triglyceride, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, cyclopentasiloxane, glyceryl stearate, cetyl alcohol, dimethicone, saccharide isomerate, polysilicone-11, glycine soja(soybean) sterols, persea gratissima (avocado) oil, stearic acid, tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, mangifera indica (mango) seed butter, hydrolyzed caesalpinia spinosa gum, caesalpinia spinosa gum, hydrolyzed soybean fiber, panthenol, tocopherol, allantoin, bisabolol, sodium stearoyl glutamate, laureth-12, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, hexylene glycol, caprylyl glycol, carbomer, sodium hydroxide

Source

Questions

What does the 69/100 score for our Hydrate Facial Moisturizer build mean?

We split Hydrate Facial Moisturizer into 5 standout parts worth 100 points in total. The build earns 69 of a possible 90. 90 is the most we claim, because some standouts have no close retail equivalent.

What is the best dupe for Hydrate Facial Moisturizer?

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream by CeraVe is our closest single-product match at 63 out of 100 for $15.49 (1.7 oz). It shares Glycerin, Saccharide isomerate, Shea butter, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Soybean sterols, Allantoin, Tocopherol.

How much can I save on Hydrate Facial Moisturizer?

Hydrate Facial Moisturizer costs $70 for 1.0 oz. The closest dupe costs $15.49, a saving of about $54.51. Prices change, so check the seller page.

Is CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream exactly the same as Hydrate Facial Moisturizer?

No. Dupes share the key actives but can differ in concentration, vehicle and supporting ingredients. Missing from this one: Tara seed extract, Mango butter and avocado oil, Tetrahydrocurcumin, Bisabolol. See our methodology for how we score.

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