What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Rice Amino Acids
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Tomato Fruit Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Acanthus Mollis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Keratin Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningCoconut Acid
Cleansing
Hydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acyl Coenzyme A Desaturase
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Polyquaternium-71
HumectantSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Isethionate
CleansingPolyquaternium-7
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oryza Sativa Extract, Rice Amino Acids, Lactobacillus/Tomato Fruit Ferment Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Acanthus Mollis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Keratin Amino Acids, Coconut Acid, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acyl Coenzyme A Desaturase, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Polyquaternium-71, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Isethionate, Polyquaternium-7, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitylglucoside, Xylitol, Parfum, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Coumarin
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Linalool
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Fumaric Acid
BufferingPassiflora Edulis Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-9
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Cocamide Mipa, Hexylene Glycol, Parfum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Salicylic Acid, Glycol Distearate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Coco-Betaine, Coumarin, Benzyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Linalool, Sodium Hyaluronate, Amyl Cinnamal, Fumaric Acid, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Juice, Trideceth-9, Potassium Sorbate, Bisabolol
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 JuiceBenzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholGlycol Distearate is an emulsifier and emollient that adds a "pearly" appearance to formulations.
That lustrous look you see in many shampoos is due to this ingredient: when cooled, it crystallizes into small platelets that reflect light to give products that rich, shimmering look.
This ingredient is considered safe at present practices of use and concentration and repeated insult patch test with 50% Glycol Distearate on 125 subjects found no evidence of skin irritation, hypersensitivity, or acute toxicity.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.1-10%.
Because it's an ester of stearic acid, it falls into the range that Malassezia likes to metabolize. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or '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 by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
