What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Polybutene
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientDipentaerythrityl Tetrahydroxystearate/Tetraisostearate
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Vanillin
Masking
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningIsostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Calendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Water
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polybutene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Diisostearyl Malate, Dipentaerythrityl Tetrahydroxystearate/Tetraisostearate, Synthetic Beeswax, Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Synthetic Wax, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Silica Silylate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Vanillin, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Isostearyl Alcohol, Boron Nitride, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Malic Acid, Water, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tocopherol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Chondrus Crispus Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Citric Acid
Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Borago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSalix Alba Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Uliginosum Berry Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Davidiana Extract
Antioxidant
Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Malva Officinalis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningStevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Borago Officinalis Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Extract, Vaccinium Uliginosum Berry Extract, Prunus Davidiana Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Malva Officinalis Flower Extract, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Menthyl Lactate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Citral, Limonene
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 Extract is an extract of the leaves of the aloe, Aloe barbadensis, Liliaceae.
Aloe is one of the most well-known natural soothing ingredients, and for good reason. It’s full of water and has a cooling, calming effect on the skin, especially when it’s sunburned, itchy, or irritated. Aloe also helps your skin stay hydrated and smooth by mimicking what healthy skin naturally produces. On top of that, it contains vitamins and nutrients that support skin recovery.Â
It doesn’t protect you from the sun, but it can help your skin bounce back after too much time in it.
Let’s get into the details:
Aloe contains antioxidant Vitamins A, C, and E, which help fight off free radicals (unstable molecules from things like pollution that can damage your skin).
It’s also rich in polysaccharides, which are natural sugars that help hydrate the skin by acting like the skin’s own moisturizing agents. These, along with other sugars like monosaccharides, help form a protective barrier that locks in moisture.
Aloe works as both a humectant and an emollient. That means it draws water into the skin (humectant) and helps trap it there (emollient), making it an effective natural moisturizer.
You’ll also find a mix of other skin-supporting ingredients in aloe, including folic acid, choline, calcium, amino acids, fatty acids, and even Vitamin B12.
Out of the 420+ species of aloe, Aloe barbadensis is the most widely used in skincare products thanks to its gentle yet effective properties.
There are over 420 species of aloe but Aloe Barbadensis is the most commonly used for topical products.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilHydrogenated Castor Oil is created by adding hydrogen to castor oil. This helps stabilize the castor oil and raises the melting point. At room temperature, hydrogenated castor oil is solid.
Castor Oil helps moisturize the skin. It is rich in a fatty acid called ricinoleic acid. This fatty acid helps prevent moisture loss on the skin. This helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. Ricinoleic acid also has anti-inflammatory and pain reducing properties.
As a wax-like substance, Hydrogenated Castor Oil acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin stay soft and smooth by creating a barrier. This barrier helps trap moisture.
Hydrogenated Castor Oil may not be fungal-acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about Hydrogenated Castor OilRicinus Communis Seed Oil is the INCI name for castor oil.
Castor Oil helps moisturize the skin. It is rich in a fatty acid called ricinoleic acid. This fatty acid helps prevent moisture loss on the skin. This helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. Ricinoleic acid also has anti-inflammatory and pain reducing properties.
Besides hydrating the skin, castor oil is also used to hydrate hair. By keeping the hair shaft moisturized, breakage is decreased. More studies are needed to show castor oil's effective on stimulating hair growth.
Castor oil is created by cold-pressing castor seeds and then purifying the oil with heat. It was used in Ancient Egypt as fuel in lamps and to help treat eye irritation.
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 Ricinus Communis Seed OilSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
