What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
CI 77947
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Gossypium Herbaceum Flower Extract
HumectantOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Kaolin
Abrasive
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Umbelliformis Extract
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
Emollient
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Fructose
Humectant
Euphrasia Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlucose
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sucrose Polystearate
EmollientInositol
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientBenzoic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, CI 77947, Zea Mays Starch, Gossypium Herbaceum Flower Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Kaolin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sucrose, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Artemisia Umbelliformis Extract, Jojoba Esters, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Lecithin, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Fructose, Euphrasia Officinalis Extract, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Glucose, Potassium Sorbate, Alcohol Denat., Sucrose Polystearate, Inositol, Trehalose, Sucrose Stearate, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Glyceryl Laurate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium PCA
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Panthenol, Dimethicone, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Diheptyl Succinate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
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 JuiceCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateWater. 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
