What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Coceth-7
EmulsifyingPPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Water, Alcohol Denat., Coceth-7, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC13-14 Alkane
SolventPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Cucumis Sativus Oil
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEpilobium Angustifolium Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Linseed Acid
CleansingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBisabolol
Masking
Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, C13-14 Alkane, Propylene Glycol, Trehalose, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Alcohol, Cucumis Sativus Oil, Maltodextrin, Laureth-7, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Sorbitol, Panthenol, Retinyl Palmitate, Linseed Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hydroxide, Bisabolol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder comes from the aloe plant.
You may know Aloe to be a good sunburn reliever and inflammation reducer. This is because it contains many components that are known to help reduce irritation and itchiness.
Aloe leaves are also great moisturizers. They are naturally rich in polysaccharides, a carbohydrate made of sugars. Polysaccharides are able to mimic the carbs found in the top layer of your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
Aloe contains the antioxidants Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins neutralize free radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe does not protect against UV rays, despite it soothing sunburns.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice PowderEthylhexylglycerin (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.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPeg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is derived from castor oil and polyethylene glycol (PEG). It is used as a emollient and emulsifier.
As an emulsifier, it helps prevent ingredients from separating. It also helps make the other ingredients more soluble; it is often used to solubilize fragrances. This increases spreadability and elongates shelf life in a product.
Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
This ingredient may or may not be vegan, depending on the source.
Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil may not be fungal-acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any questions or concerns.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
