What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningPorphyra Umbilicalis Extract
Skin ConditioningAlaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingCarrageenan
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingCymbopogon Flexuosus Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBabassu Oil Polyglyceryl-4 Esters
SurfactantSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSea Salt
AbrasivePolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Phytate
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Salicylate
PreservativeSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Citric Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Carrageenan, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Babassu Oil Polyglyceryl-4 Esters, Sodium Levulinate, Sea Salt, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sodium Phytate, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Salicylate, Sodium Anisate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Coco-Sulfate
CleansingSodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingChenopodium Quinoa Seed
AbrasiveCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientStyrax Benzoin Resin Extract
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBabassu Oil Polyglyceryl-4 Esters
SurfactantBisabolol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientInulin
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Phytate
Sodium Sulfate
Alcohol
AntimicrobialBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitral
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Decyl Glucoside, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Babassu Oil Polyglyceryl-4 Esters, Bisabolol, Citric Acid, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Inulin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Sulfate, Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citral, Limonene
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 JuiceBabassu Oil Polyglyceryl-4 Esters is an oil and isn't fungal acne safe.
Citric 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 AcidThis ingredient is also known as lime essential oil or key lime essential oil.
Like other citrus extracts and oils, this ingredient contains furanocoumarins that can cause phototoxicity.
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil is oil from the peel of an orange fruit.
Limonene and linalool make up the majority of oils from citrus peels. Limonene has a "citrus" fragrance. Citrus peels also contain flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties.
Citrus peel is also a rich source of flavonoids. Flavonoids are natural antioxidants and help protect your skin against damage. Flavonoids are a group of compounds naturally found in vegetables and fruits.
The term '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.
Learn more about Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel OilCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideGlyceryl Oleate is the monoester of glycerin and oleic acid. It is a skin-conditioning emollient that also helps form emulsions.
What makes glyceryl oleate special is its "re-fatting" effect.
When you wash your hair and skin with a surfactant-based cleanser, the surfactants grab onto everything. This includes your skin's natural lipids, or the fats that live in your skin barrier and sebum. Once you rinse these surfactants away, it leaves your skin feeling tight, dry, and clean (in a not-good way).
Re-fatting is essentially putting some of these lipids back. Glyceryl oleate deposits a thin layer of emollient lipids back on the skin or hair surface reduce some of the barrier damage.
Also, glyceryl oleate isn't a foreign molecule to your skin. It's chemically identical to something your skin already produces and manages naturally. This is why it tends to be well-tolerated with low risk of irritation.
Typical use levels range from 0.5-5%.
Glyceryl Oleate has a function of "perfuming" in the CosIng database. This just means that the ingredient has some scent character that can contribute to the product's overall smell.
The scent of this ingredient is described as "waxy".
As an ester of oleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. This is because oleic acid falls into the carbon-chain length that Malassezia can use as a substrate.
Learn more about Glyceryl OleateSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Water. 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