What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C16 Olefin Sulfonate
EmulsifyingSorbitol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
Tonic
Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentCitrus Junos Fruit Juice
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEthyl Vanillate
Perfuming
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Sodium C16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sorbitol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Panthenol, Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Juice, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Allantoin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethyl Vanillate, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Flower
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Protein
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Seed
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Mangifera Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Callus Extract
Antioxidant
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus Flower, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Protein, Glyceryl Laurate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Resveratrol, Ubiquinone, Vitis Vinifera Seed, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Mangifera Indica Seed Oil, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Callus Extract, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is the filtered, stabilized liquid pressed from the inner gel of the aloe vera leaf.
In cosmetics, it shows up as either soothing active or a water-replacement base. It is roughly 98-99% water and the last 1-2% is an interesting mix of polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.
The polysaccharides do most of the work: they bind water at the skin surface for a light, non-greasy hydration boost. And one of the polysaccharides, glycomannan, is linked to fibroblast stimulation + collagen synthesis. This is also why aloe has such a long track record in wound and burn healing.
This ingredient is also calming with anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity, making it a great pick for sensitive, irritated, or post-sun skin.
Realistic expectations matter though; the solid evidence is mostly limited to hydration, soothing, and wound support. Deeper claims about anti-aging or sun protection are not well backed, and science reviews note it does not prevent radiation-induced skin injury.
Because it plays well with almost everything, it's commonly used as a base alongside other actives like niacinamide or vitamin C.
Typical usage concentrations range from 0.5% (where hydration benefits already show up) all the way to 90%+ (where it replaces water as the main base).
The safety for this ingredient is well-establish as well. Overall, this is a great supporting ingredient for those who want a boost in hydration.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenethyl Alcohol is a colorless and aromatic alohol. It is naturally occuring in essential oils.
The scent of this ingredient is floral and often compared to rose.
Like other alcohols, this ingredient helps prevent the growth of bacteria. However, its main purpose is to impact a fragrance.
Learn more about Phenethyl AlcoholTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
