What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Shea Butter Cetyl Esters
Skin Conditioning
Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter
Emollient
Sea Water
HumectantC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Poria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningTetrapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hinokitiol
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Boswellia Serrata Gum Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pinus Cembra Wood Extract
Skin ConditioningPorphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Shea Butter Cetyl Esters, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Sea Water, C12-16 Alcohols, Behenyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Cetyl Palmitate, Niacinamide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Poria Cocos Extract, Tetrapeptide-14, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hinokitiol, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Boswellia Serrata Gum Extract, Honey Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pinus Cembra Wood Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Palmitic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Maltodextrin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Disodium EDTA, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Japonica Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract
UV FilterPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningPhragmites Communis Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Squalane, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Sorbitan Stearate, Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Japonica Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Phragmites Communis Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Betaine, Sucrose Cocoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cellulose Gum, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.
Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.
It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceBehenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 ingredient comes from a medicinal mushroom commonly used in East Asian medicine. It has skin conditioning properties. It is also known as Wolfiporia extensa.
It is particularly great at soothing inflammation and protecting skin from stress due to its high content of polysaccharides and triterpenoids.
Some studies link the triterpenes to reduced oxidative stress and collagen protection in skin models. This suggests potential benefits for early signs of aging.
On top of that, studies also report tyrosinase inhibition and reduced melanin production in melanocyte models to help brighten skin (though more clinical evidence is needed for definitive claims).
The polysaccharides can also help hydrate the skin as humectants.
Safety data shows a low irritation risk for this ingredient. However, like any extract, some may experience an allergic reaction when using this ingredient. Be sure to patch test!
Learn more about Poria Cocos ExtractPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
