What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingIsopentane
SolventLaureth-23
Cleansing
Sorbitol
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Isobutane
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxypropylcellulose
EmulsifyingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingSilica
Abrasive
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Palmitic Acid, Triethanolamine, Isopentane, Laureth-23, Sorbitol, Stearic Acid, Isobutane, Glyceryl Oleate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Bisabolol, Allantoin, CI 77891, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Phosphate, Silica, Hydroxycitronellal
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Colloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Laureth-23
Cleansing
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPetrolatum
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Cocoglycerides, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycol Distearate, Colloidal Oatmeal, Laureth-23, CI 77891, Petrolatum, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Potassium Sorbate, Carbomer, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate
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 JuiceCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Glycerin (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 GlycerinLaureth-23 is created by reacting ethylene oxide with Lauryl Alcohol.
It is a cleansing ingredient. This means it helps lift oils and dirt so they may be rinsed away with water.
The 23 refers to the number of repeating ethylene oxides in the molecule.
Learn more about Laureth-23Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
