What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningTrimethylsiloxyamodimethicone
Parfum
Masking
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
C12-16 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Water, Alcohol Denat., Pvp, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, Parfum, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, C11-15 Pareth-7, Glycerin, C12-16 Pareth-9, Trideceth-12, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Panthenol, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Lactate, Benzyl Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Alkanna Tinctoria Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Damascena Flower Extract
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Alkanna Tinctoria Root Extract, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Xanthan Gum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Glycerin, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Tin Oxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, CI 77891
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 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 JuiceButylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
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
