What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Panthenol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trideceth-9, Citric Acid, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Bisabolol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Squalane, Niacinamide, Methyl Gluceth-20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Betaine, Tromethamine, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Lactic Acid, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Allantoin, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol
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 Extract is a botanical extract pulled from the leaves of aloe vera and one of the most studied plant ingredients in cosmetics.
The inner leaf gel it comes from is mostly water (~99-99.5%) and the remaining fraction is made up of pretty good stuff: polysaccharides, vitamins, phenolics, and enzymes.
Its headline job is hydration.
The star polysaccharide in aloe, acemannan, is a humectant that retains moisture and helps reduce trans-epidermal water loss.
Aloe also has real soothing credentials; it contains anti-inflammatory compounds like bradykinase and C-glucosyl chromone that help calm irritation and redness.
On the repair side, lab work shows that acemannan wakes up your skin's repair cells (fibroblasts), prompting them to multiply and speed up healing.
There's some human data for cosmetic benefit too: a cream containing 10% Aloe Barbadensis leaf extract improved skin hydration and elasticity in a real-use study.
Safety-wise, this ingredient is well-regarded with just one rare downside; there have been some case reports of acute eczema, contact urticaria, and dermatitis in people who applied aloe-derived ingredients topically. Those with a known aloe or Liliaceae sensitivity should patch test.
Typical use levels range widely, from under 1% up to 90%+ depending on the format and the effect you are after.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 PanthenolWater. 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
