What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSea Water
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Undecylenate
EmollientCassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingTaraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningGeranium Maculatum Extract
TonicAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sea Water, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Propylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Citric Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Spirulina Platensis 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 JuiceGlycerin (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 Glycerin