What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Lauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Cerasus Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Mangifera Indica Juice
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Punica Granatum Bark Extract
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Averrhoa Carambola Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Oleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningCI 40800
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Prunus Cerasus Fruit Extract, Papain, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Juice, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Panthenol, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Punica Granatum Bark Extract, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Averrhoa Carambola Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Sodium Surfactin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Beta-Carotene, CI 40800
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cymbopogon Citratus Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenyl Hydroxypropyl Steardimonium Chloride
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Polyquaternium-7
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
CI 75810
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cymbopogon Citratus Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Panthenol, Panthenyl Hydroxypropyl Steardimonium Chloride, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, CI 75810
Reviews
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 AlcoholThis ingredient is a mild surfactant made by sticking glucose onto a blend of fatty acids.
It does two jobs because it has a sugar head that loves water and a fatty tail that loves oil:
Typical use levels range from 10-20% in cleansers and 15-30% in shower products.
Once on your skin, your skin's glucoside hydrolases breaks it down into glucose and the parent fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is considered fungal acne safe because its fatty alcohol portion sits outside the Malassezia yeast's metabolization range.
Learn more about Caprylyl/Capryl GlucosideCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 ParfumWater. 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
