What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEcklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningRaphanus Sativus Root Extract
AstringentDimethiconol
EmollientC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveArginine
MaskingPolyacrylate-13
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Limonene
PerfumingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingJuniperus Mexicana Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Raphanus Sativus Root Extract, Dimethiconol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Silica, Arginine, Polyacrylate-13, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyisobutene, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Disodium EDTA, Limonene, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientEcklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientRaphanus Sativus Root Extract
AstringentPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Seed Oil
HumectantCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
PerfumingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingEugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentJuniperus Mexicana Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Raphanus Sativus Root Extract, Polysorbate 60, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Sorbitan Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Arginine, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is an extract of the leaves of the aloe, Aloe barbadensis, Liliaceae.
Aloe is one of the most well-known natural soothing ingredients, and for good reason. It’s full of water and has a cooling, calming effect on the skin, especially when it’s sunburned, itchy, or irritated. Aloe also helps your skin stay hydrated and smooth by mimicking what healthy skin naturally produces. On top of that, it contains vitamins and nutrients that support skin recovery.Â
It doesn’t protect you from the sun, but it can help your skin bounce back after too much time in it.
Let’s get into the details:
Aloe contains antioxidant Vitamins A, C, and E, which help fight off free radicals (unstable molecules from things like pollution that can damage your skin).
It’s also rich in polysaccharides, which are natural sugars that help hydrate the skin by acting like the skin’s own moisturizing agents. These, along with other sugars like monosaccharides, help form a protective barrier that locks in moisture.
Aloe works as both a humectant and an emollient. That means it draws water into the skin (humectant) and helps trap it there (emollient), making it an effective natural moisturizer.
You’ll also find a mix of other skin-supporting ingredients in aloe, including folic acid, choline, calcium, amino acids, fatty acids, and even Vitamin B12.
Out of the 420+ species of aloe, Aloe barbadensis is the most widely used in skincare products thanks to its gentle yet effective properties.
There are over 420 species of aloe but Aloe Barbadensis is the most commonly used for topical products.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractArginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil comes from the chamomile flower (like the tea you drink).
Essential oils from chamomile have been found to improve wound healing due to its antimicrobial properties.
Chamomile oil can help soothe and hydrate your skin.
Learn more about Chamomilla Recutita Flower OilThis ingredient is also known as lime essential oil or key lime essential oil.
Like other citrus extracts and oils, this ingredient contains furanocoumarins that can cause phototoxicity.
Citrus Limon Peel Oil is created from the peels of the lemon. It is used to add a lemon-scent to products. Lemon peel oil also has antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. However, it may also cause phototoxicity and sensitize skin.
Lemon peel oil contains limonene, a skin sensitizing ingredient. Another component is furanocoumarin, which induces phototoxicity in skin.
Furanocoumarins bind and destabilize your DNA to increase the rate of sunburn.
Most reputable companies will remove furanocoumarins from their formulations.
Learn more about Citrus Limon Peel OilDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAWe don't have a description for Ecklonia Cava Extract yet.
This oil is derived from the leaves of Eucalyptus Globulus, a type of Eucalyptus tree native to Australia.
Though this oil shows antibacterial and antioxidant activity, it is also a known skin-irritant due to its fragrance components.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinThis essential oil is steam-distilled from the wood of the Juniperus tree. It's mainly a fragrance ingredient used to cover the scent of other ingredients. It has a warm, woody scent.
Be sure to patch test if you are sensitive to essential oils or fragrance.
Another name for this ingredient is Texas Cedarwood oil.
Learn more about Juniperus Mexicana OilLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilWe don't have a description for Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract yet.
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil is the pressed oil of the Rose Geranium plant. It is volatile, meaning it evaporates off the skin.
Fragrant components of Rose Geranium include citronellol and geraniol. These may cause allergies and skin-sensitivity. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
The scent of Rose Geranium closely resembles traditional roses.
Learn more about Pelargonium Graveolens Flower OilThis extract comes from Purslane, a succulent. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hydrating properties.
Purslane is very nutritious. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, NMFs, many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The vitamins found in purslane include: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E.
Fun fact: Purslane is a succulent with an extensive habitat. It is used in traditional Korean medicine to treat irritated skin.
Nowadays, purslane is becoming a superfood due to its highly nutritious content.
Learn more about Portulaca Oleracea ExtractWe don't have a description for Raphanus Sativus Root Extract yet.
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil is an essential oil also known as rosemary essential oil. In skincare, it is a skin conditioning agent and also acts as a natural fragrance that gives products a fresh/herby smell.
The oil is a mix of over 100 volatile compounds with 1,8-cineole, α-pinene, camphor, and verbenone usually leading the pack.
Lab studies credit this oil with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity. Some research even show rosemary compounds calming acne-related inflammation.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be nonsensitizing.
Since this is a fragrant essential oil, the main concern is for fragrance-sensitive folks.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf OilWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water