ADVERTISEMENT INFO: SOME PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THIS POST ARE PR (GIFTED) AND LINKS USED ARE AFFILIATE LINKS. I RECEIVED NO MONEY TO WRITE THE BLOGPOST. PLEASE READ DISCLAIMER

 

I was really lucky that I got both the original facetheory Supergel Moisturizer Oil-frrr as well as the Supergel Moisturizer PRO that promises more actives, but also is quite a bit more expensive than the original. That way I get to compare them side by side and am able to tell you what has changed – other than the ingredients. Does it still feel the same?

 

 

And if it has changed – has it changed enough to justify almost doubling the price? Let’s look at texture, ingredients and how it performs on the skin!

 

 

What the facetheory Supergel Moisturiser M3 PRO claims

We’ve supercharged your favourite Supergel Moisturiser – M3 PRO is packed with even more actives yet remains oil-free and feels just as lightweight as ever. It still contains 1% niacinamide and vitamin C to brighten and balance, and now has added prebiotics, algae and willowherb to hydrate, strengthen and refine. We’ve dialled up the salicylic acid – a BHA that helps relieve congestion while aiding in the regeneration of skin cells.

 

Facts about the facetheory Supergel Moisturiser M3 PRO

Prize and size

The new formula contains 50 ml and is available for 30 € on the website here. The old version has the same amount, but was only 19 €. It is still available here.

 

Texture and smell

Both have absolutely no scent and look similar, but not identical. The original version is completely clear, while the PRO one has a yellow hue and appears to be thicker when pressed out of the tube. That isn’t the case when you start to spread it though, here the PRO version feels more lightweight and sinks in quicker with less tackiness.

 

 

 

How to use the facetheory Supergel Moisturizers

Both can be used both morning and night depending on your skin type and preferences, but the lightweight formulation lends itself to morning use, night time is probably only for those of us with oily skin during the hot months.
While I enjoy the texture and the smooth feeling they give, both are a little more tacky than I like, especially as you don’t really layer much on top, which is how I make tacky serums work. That tackiness subsides after around five minutes though, so if you are more patient than I am, it is probably not a problem.

Both make my skin feel soft, but I don’t perceive them as overly hydrating.

 

Ingredients of the facetheory Supergel Moisturiser M3 PRO vs the original formula

PRO version:

Hover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.

 

Original version:

Hover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.

When you put both side by side, you will see that the main change has been made with the added plant extracts. While the original version contained Chamomile and Green Tea Extract (More info: The benefits of Green Tea Extract in skincare explained), those have been replaced by Epilobium Fleischerii and Sargassum Muticum Extract. Neither of those really rings a bell for me, but they are what is referred to as added prebiotics (More info: The benefits of prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics in skincare explained).

We learn at the website that both contain Niacinamide at 1% (More info: The benefits of Niacinamide in skincare explained), meaning both the Sodium Ascorbyl phosphate as Vitamin C derivative (More info: The benefits of Vitamin C in skincare explained) and the Salicylic Acid that they apparently have increased in the new version are present at below 1%. The new version contains more Glycerin and additional humectants, but other than that I don’t really see much of a difference.

More info: How to read the ingredient list in your skincare products

 

How do they compare to…

 

 

Murad Nutrient Charged Water Gel

Murad version has a silicone base, ceramides and sh-Oligopeptides, Niacinamide and a few other B-Vitamins and lastly fermented ingredients (More info: The benefits of fermented ingredients in skincare explained and The benefits of Ceramides in skincare explained). I like the texture and how it behaves on my skin much more, but am aware that it is still twice as expensive as the facetheory moisturizer PRO and that some people won’t like that it is fragranced and colored (More info: Is fragrance in your skincare dangerous?).

You can read my full review of the Murad Nutrient Charged Water Gel here.

 

 

The Inkey List Omega Water Cream

The Inkey Lists version looks more like a cream, but behaves more lightweight on the skin, sinking in immediately without tackiness. Again I much prefer the texture of this one that I use as lightweight moisturizer in summer and as extra layer of hydration underneath something richer in winter. There are no plant extracts present, which is something I actually like, as they are quite often a source of irritation for people with sensitive skins.

You can read my full review of The Inkey List Omega Water Cream here.

 

 

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer

If you prefer plant extracts in your products, then the version from Glow Recipe could be a good alternative. It is priced similar to the facetheory Supergel Moisturizer Pro, but has a much nicer texture with no tackiness. It contains Beta-Glucan, which is soothing (More info: The benefits of Colloidal oatmeal in skincare explained), and among the many plant extracts Licorice Root Extract, which is used to target hyperpigmentation. (More info: The benefits of Licorice Root Extract in skincare explained)

It is fragranced though, so if you want to avoid that, facetheory is the better pick.

You can read my full review of the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer here.

 

 

Geek and Gorgeous Hydration Station Gel Cream

Geek and Gorgeous Hydration Station is one of the more unique gel moisturizer formulas I have come across: It is lightweight, but doesn’t come with silicones (nothing wrong with silicones, I like them a lot!), fragrance or Hyaluronic Acid, which is great for those that don’t react well to Hyaluronic Acid in their skincare. (More info: The benefits of Hyaluronic Acid in skincare explained) Still the texture is beautiful and easy to spread on the skin and the price is very affordable. There aren’t and fancy added plant extracts or similar, just a focus on hydration and soothing, but that it does exceptionally well.

You can read my full review of the Geek and Gorgeous Hydration Station Gel Cream here.

 

Would I repurchase and which skin types do I recommend which one to?

As you might have guessed, I am not a fan and would not repurchase.

Obviously two products with a similar ingredient list can still perform completely differently on the skin, but in this case the only difference I can tell is the slightly reduced tackiness in the new version, which quite frankly doesn’t justify the increase in price for me. If you have used and loved the old version, there is no need to switch to the newer, more pricey one in my opinion.

 

 

Shop the post

 

Don’t forget to check out the Discount Code Page on top if you want to save some money on your next skincare purchase.
If you want to get a vote in the next Ask Doctor Anne Topic, Ingredient Spotlight or product I review, don’t forget you can head over to my Patreon account to get more involved!