What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dimethyl Phenylethyl Carbinyl Acetate
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Hexamethylindanopyran
Masking
Trimethylbenzenepropanol
Masking
Terpineol
Masking
Acetyl Cedrene
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Apigenin
Antioxidant
Alpha-Damascone
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialUrtica Dioica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Polysorbate 20, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Panthenol, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Dimethyl Phenylethyl Carbinyl Acetate, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexamethylindanopyran, Trimethylbenzenepropanol, Terpineol, Acetyl Cedrene, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Apigenin, Alpha-Damascone, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract, Oleanolic Acid, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingKeratin
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicPolyquaternium-73
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Isobutylamido Thiazolyl Resorcinol
Bleaching
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantNiacin
SmoothingPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Keratin, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Polysorbate 20, Biotin, Polyquaternium-73, Cocamide Mipa, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Isobutylamido Thiazolyl Resorcinol, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine, Folic Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Ascorbic Acid, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopherol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Citric Acid
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 JuiceCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20
