What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Disodium Coco-Glucoside Citrate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Isethionate
CleansingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningCoconut Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Disodium Coco-Glucoside Citrate, Sodium Chloride, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Isethionate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Levulinate, Coconut Acid, Sodium Phosphate
Water
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingIsopentane
SolventSorbitol
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Isobutane
Sunflower Seed Oil Glyceride
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMethylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Benzaldehyde
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Water, Palmitic Acid, Triethanolamine, Isopentane, Sorbitol, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Sorbitan Stearate, Isobutane, Sunflower Seed Oil Glyceride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Benzaldehyde, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Allantoin
Reviews
Alternatives
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 JuiceGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseWater. 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
