Who doesn’t like to save a few bucks when they can, which is why dupes are universally loved! The latest “dupe” to hit the skincare aisles is the Ponds Super Light Gel which is an oil-free moisturiser that is supposed to be a dupe for the much-loved Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator, and its other dupe- the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel. The Ponds Super Light Gel is priced at a fraction of the price of these holy grail moisturisers for oily-skinned folks, but is it truly a dupe for these products? I will break it down for you in today’s review.
The Packaging
While both the Clinique Moisture Surge and the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel come in luxurious looking jars, the Ponds Super Light Gel comes in a flatter disc-shaped jar. The jar is made out of plastic, with a screw-on lid and no additional lid inside to prevent leakage of product. This is a bit worrisome because the gel has a flowy texture and may leak if you do not screw on the lid all the way. However, I have not noticed any leakeage so far. The design of the jar is similar to that of other Ponds creams, with a refreshing light blue colour to indicate the cooling and hydrating features of the gel. It is definitely not as luxurious looking as the Clinique or Neutrogena packaging, but is functional and a good deal for the price.
Some may even argue that this is a more travel-friendly design as it is thinner and compact. The gel is also available in a variety of jar sizes, so you can choose the size as per your need.
The Texture
As I mentioned before, the texture of the Ponds Gel is that of a flowy gel, almost like slime but in a good way. It feels quite cooling on the skin and gets absorbed fairly quickly, although it does leave the skin slightly sticky for a few minutes after application. It settles down to a non-greasy finish, with a slight wet shine. The fragrance in the tub is a strong aquatic scent, but it does not linger on the skin a lot after application.
The Formula
The formula of this gel contains hydrating ingredients such as Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid and Butylene Glycol. Of course, the product is oil-free and contains Water as the top ingredient. The formula also contains silicones, which gives the product a smooth and slippery consistency, along with Niacinamide, which is known for its anti-acne and skin brightening properties. One troubling ingredient on the list is perfume, but luckily the product did not break me out.
List of Ingredients – Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Niacinamide, Linoleámidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Perfume, Sodium PCA, Disodium EDTA, Stearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethanolamine, BHT, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aqua, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Ci 42090
The Efficacy of the Ponds Super Light Gel
The Ponds Super Light Gel is a good cooling moisturiser for those with oily skin. It makes the skin plump and hydrated without causing any greasiness. I have also noticed a slight improvement in my acne as well as a slight glow to my skin ever since I started using this product, which is perhaps due to the presence of Niacinamide in the formula. While a high concentration of Niacinamide sometimes doesn’t agree with my skin, this product does not irritate my skin at all. I personally prefer to use this product at night after my serums, but it will work great under makeup during the day as well, due to its siliconey texture that resembles primers.
Is the Ponds Super Light Gel A Dupe For Clinique Moisture Surge?
As you can see in the charts above the Ponds Super Light Gel and Clinique Moisture Surge contain similar key hydrating ingredients, aka Glycerin, Butylene glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit E) and Hyaluronic Acid. They also contain the same viscosity controlling ingredient, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate, as well as dimethicone for the slipperiness, which could attribute to the similar texture of both the products. However the position of the ingredients in the ingredient list varies across the two formulas. This means that the concentration of these ingredients is possibly different in the two products. Furthermore, there could also be a difference in the efficacy of the products due to different sources of the ingredients and manufacturing techniques.
Also, Clinique Moisture Surge contains a bunch of additional ingredients such as green tea, caffeine, and aloe, which may make it more suitable for certain skincare needs. Clinique Moisture Surge is also a fragrance-free formula, which makes it more suitable for those with sensitive skin. On the other hand, the Ponds Gel contains Niacinamide pretty high up on the list, which may make it more suitable for those with acne-prone skin.
That being said, in terms of texture and hydration only, the Ponds Super Light Gel can safely be called a good enough dupe for Clinique Moisture Surge. It is an amazing affordable and readily available alternative to Clinique Moisture Surge, especially if you are looking for an oil-free moisturiser to layer on top of your serums which are already providing you targeted skincare benefits. I will recommend picking up the small jar first if you are apprehensive about the fragrance, and if you find it compatible for your skin then you have an amazing pocket-friendly moisturiser at hand!
Click here to buy the Ponds Super Light Gel Oil-Free Moisturiser.
Really helpful post and I am currently using this ponds moistriser quite liked it.
Your reviews are so well written. Really does justice to the product.
I’m going to try this Moisturizer next.
Thank you so much 🙂