What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAvocado Oil Glycereth-8 Esters
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Asparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Syriacus Callus Extract
Antioxidant
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Avena Sativa Bran Extract
Abrasive
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingMethylpropanediol
SolventSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Phytate
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Caproyl/Lauroyl Lactylate
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
Buffering
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Xanthan Gum, Avocado Oil Glycereth-8 Esters, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Hibiscus Syriacus Callus Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Caprylyl Glycol, Isoamyl Laurate, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Maltodextrin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenethyl Alcohol, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Caproyl/Lauroyl Lactylate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract
Antioxidant
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Khaya Senegalensis Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningNicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-47
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Isoamyl Laurate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Adenosine, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Benzoate, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Khaya Senegalensis Bark Extract, Maltodextrin, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-47
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilIsoamyl Laurate is a plant-derived and biodegradable lightweight emollient that is an Ecocert/COSMOS approved alternative to silicones.
It functions as an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin without leaving a greasy/sticky feel.
You'll find it in a range of products from makeup to sunscreen, and typically at low percentages (~2-5%).
This ingredient is deemed safe at current cosmetic use and non-sensitizing in human studies (it's even approved as a food additive flavoring substance).
Because this ingredient is an easter of lauric acid, it falls in the C11-24 range that Malassezia can feed on, making this ingredient not fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Isoamyl LaurateMaltodextrin is a plant-derived carbohydrate made by breaking down starch (usually from corn, potato, or rice). In cosmetic formulas, it's a multitasking absorbent, emulsion stabilizer, and skin conditioner.
This ingredient is mostly used to stabilize emulsions and improve the powdery, non-greasy feel of products (like dry shampoos).
Safety-wise, this ingredient is pretty solid; it's even recognized as a food additive. Both animal and clinical studies found no adverse effects at the levels used in cosmetics.
Industry data shows this ingredient is used up to 45.7% in spray products and up to 33% in powder products.
Learn more about MaltodextrinSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
