What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingWater
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Symphytum Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Water, Myristic Acid, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Chloride, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Citronellol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Symphytum Officinale Root Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Geraniol, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Illicium Verum Leaf Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Myristica Fragrans Kernel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Medica Peel Oil
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Hibiscus Abelmoschus Extract
MaskingLinalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Anogeissus Leiocarpus Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Jasminum Officinale Flower Wax
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
CleansingPEG-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phytantriol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Behenic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Lauric Acid, Stearic Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Illicium Verum Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Myristica Fragrans Kernel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Citrus Medica Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Hibiscus Abelmoschus Extract, Linalool, Citronellol, Limonene, Anogeissus Leiocarpus Bark Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Wax, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, PEG-3 Distearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytantriol, Disodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol
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 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 ExtractCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil is the oil from the bergamot orange. It is native to Italy.
This ingredient is used to add fragrance to products. It contains limonene, linalool, and linalyl acetate.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
When used topically, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil is a photosensitizer due to its furanocoumarins. Photosensitizers make the skin and eyes much more sensitive to sunlight. Photosensitizers are linked to skin cancer.
However, more cosmetics using Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil are removing the furanocoumarins.
Bergamot oil was also found to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Learn more about Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit OilGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinLauric Acid is a fatty acid or lipid. About half of fatty acids in coconut oil is lauric acid.
This ingredient helps hydrate and sooth skin. As a humectant, it helps trap moisture. It also aids in cleaning and enhancing the texture of products.
Lauric acid may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal acne, safe.
Learn more about Lauric AcidLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneMyristic Acid is a saturated fatty acid. It is naturally found in milk fat. Other sources include palm oil, coconut oil, and butter fat.
Myristic Acid is an emulsifer and cleanser. As an emulsifer, it stabilizes a product by preventing ingredients from separating. Myristic Acid helps clean your skin by acting as a surfactant. It tends to gather oil and dirt on your skin to be easily rinsed away.
One study from 2021 found Myristic Acid to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Myristic AcidPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources. In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
As an emollient, palmitic acid helps soften and smooth the skin by preventing water loss. In cleansers, it helps remove oil and dirt while creating foam.
Its emulsifying properties help stabilize products by keeping water and oil-based ingredients from separating.
This may not be suitable for fungal acne-prone skin, as fatty acids like this can sometimes trigger breakouts in sensitive individuals.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidPotassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideStearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.
As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.
Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.
Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
