What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid 5%
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientPropanediol
SolventSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientBetaine
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Glycolic Acid 5%, Lactic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Allantoin, Sodium Gluconate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantArbutin
Antioxidant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantMethylparaben
PreservativeSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Methyl Gluceth-20, Niacinamide, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Arbutin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
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 ExtractEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water