What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Brassica Glycerides
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Podocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Phytate
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAroma
Pullulan
Defatted Citrus Unshiu Fruit
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Glycerin, Brassica Glycerides, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Behenyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Podocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract, Pleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Phytate, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Aroma, Pullulan, Defatted Citrus Unshiu Fruit, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Piroctone Olamine
Preservative
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Mel
EmollientAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Acetum
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Humulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Lactic Acid, Niacinamide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Squalane, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Panthenol, Piroctone Olamine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Hyaluronic Acid, Mel, Allantoin, Glycerin, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Acetum, Potassium Sorbate, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Parfum, Tocopherol, Humulus Lupulus Extract
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 Juice is the filtered, stabilized liquid pressed from the inner gel of the aloe vera leaf.
In cosmetics, it shows up as either soothing active or a water-replacement base. It is roughly 98-99% water and the last 1-2% is an interesting mix of polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.
The polysaccharides do most of the work: they bind water at the skin surface for a light, non-greasy hydration boost. And one of the polysaccharides, glycomannan, is linked to fibroblast stimulation + collagen synthesis. This is also why aloe has such a long track record in wound and burn healing.
This ingredient is also calming with anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity, making it a great pick for sensitive, irritated, or post-sun skin.
Realistic expectations matter though; the solid evidence is mostly limited to hydration, soothing, and wound support. Deeper claims about anti-aging or sun protection are not well backed, and science reviews note it does not prevent radiation-induced skin injury.
Because it plays well with almost everything, it's commonly used as a base alongside other actives like niacinamide or vitamin C.
Typical usage concentrations range from 0.5% (where hydration benefits already show up) all the way to 90%+ (where it replaces water as the main base).
The safety for this ingredient is well-establish as well. Overall, this is a great supporting ingredient for those who want a boost in hydration.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterGlycerin (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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateXanthan 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
