What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentGlycolic Acid
BufferingDimethyl Sulfone
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Stearate
CleansingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningMatrixyl 3000
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Callus
AntimicrobialThioctic Acid
AntioxidantArctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPiper Angustifolium Extract
Skin ProtectingVaccinium Macrocarpon Seed
AbrasiveRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root
Skin ConditioningEuphrasia Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialHelichrysum Italicum Flower Oil
MaskingCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Oil
MaskingBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingUbiquinone
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhytic Acid
Phospholipids
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientAcetum
Citrus Medica Limonum Peel
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin ConditioningCymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePanthenol
Skin ConditioningArnica Montana Flower
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCalendula Officinalis Flower Oil
MaskingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingVitis Vinifera
MaskingMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycolic Acid, Dimethyl Sulfone, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Squalane, Lactic Acid, Isopropyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Stearyl Alcohol, Potassium Stearate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Matrixyl 3000, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Carbomer, Arginine, Beeswax, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Callus, Thioctic Acid, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Piper Angustifolium Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root, Euphrasia Officinalis Extract, Helichrysum Italicum Flower Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Ubiquinone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phytic Acid, Phospholipids, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Acetum, Citrus Medica Limonum Peel, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sclerotium Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Panthenol, Arnica Montana Flower, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCentaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin Conditioning2,3-Butanediol
HumectantOleyl Erucate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
EmollientC9-12 Alkane
SolventGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSequoia Sempervirens Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantCarrageenan
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, 2,3-Butanediol, Oleyl Erucate, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, C9-12 Alkane, Glyceryl Behenate, Coco-Caprylate, Water, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Caffeine, Benzyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sequoia Sempervirens Stem Extract, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Carrageenan, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Sodium Hydroxide, Dehydroacetic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil
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 comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.
Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.
It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceBenzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum