What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Sulfate
Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingGlyceryl Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
Masking
Monarda Didyma Oil
Tonic
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Extract
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSalicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Tanacetum Annuum Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Damascena Flower Wax
MaskingSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Glycerin, Sodium Sulfate, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Monarda Didyma Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tanacetum Annuum Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil, Ceramide NP, Rosa Damascena Flower Wax, Synthetic Beeswax, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Sucrose Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ubiquinone, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentGeranium Maculatum Extract
TonicTaraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Origanum Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Dimethyl Sulfone, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Cocamide Mipa, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Origanum Vulgare Extract
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 JuiceCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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
