What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningLysolecithin
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Eos
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningMusa Sapientum Leaf/Trunk Extract
Tocopherol
AntioxidantCalcium Gluconate
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCeteareth-25
CleansingArginine
MaskingSilica
AbrasiveCaprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCaprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBehenic Acid
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Propanediol, Squalane, Glycerin, Sodium Citrate, Gluconolactone, Beta-Glucan, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide EOP, Musa Sapientum Leaf/Trunk Extract, Tocopherol, Calcium Gluconate, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceteareth-25, Arginine, Silica, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Cholesterol, Lactic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Behenic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHeterotheca Inuloides Flower Extract
MaskingChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPoncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Brassica Napus Seedcake Extract
Skin ConditioningSr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1
HumectantCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningLysolecithin
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Pullulan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingJojoba Esters
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Formate
BufferingSodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Triheptanoin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Heterotheca Inuloides Flower Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Brassica Napus Seedcake Extract, Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Diheptyl Succinate, Phenoxyethanol, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Jojoba Esters, Silica, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Formate, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium PCA, Potassium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus 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 OilWe don't have a description for Lysolecithin yet.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolPullulan is a low viscosity polysaccharide (a long chain carbohydrate) with binding and film forming properties when dissolved in water. It is used to create a "silicone-like" or silky feel in cosmetics without adding viscosity.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient's ability to easily dissolves makes it a great carrier for active ingredients.
Due to it being edible and tasteless, you'll likely find this ingredient in breath freshener strips. This ingredient is produced from the starch of the fungus, Aureobasidium pullulans.
Pullulan is stable over a broad-range of pH.
Learn more about PullulanSclerotium Gum is a natural sugar-based fiber made by fermenting a fungus called Sclerotium rolfsii. It's often used as the plant-friendly alternative for synthetic thickeners like carbomer.
In skincare, it works as a thickener, gel former, and stabilizer that keeps heavy ingredients suspended so a product does not separate.
It is non-ionic and forms a triple helix in solution. This is just a fancy way of saying it builds a smooth, cushiony, and non-sticky gel that feels silkier than many other gums.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it is very sturdy and holds up across a wide pH range (~2-11). It's also good at resisting heat and hydrolysis.
Since it holds water at the skin surface, it can provide some light hydration as well.
Typical use levels are around 0.25-2%; formulators usually use 0.2-0.5% to thicken lotions and up to 2% for a firmer gel base.
This ingredient has been found safe in cosmetics with no meaningful evidence of skin sensitization.
Learn more about Sclerotium GumSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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