What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Water
Masking
Emulsifying Wax
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Calendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Water
AstringentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Water, Emulsifying Wax, Stearic Acid, Alcohol, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Water
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Emulsifying Wax
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Garcinia Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Water
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Achillea Millefolium Oil
Cleansing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel, Glycerin, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Emulsifying Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Garcinia Indica Seed Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Water, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Achillea Millefolium Oil
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholAloe 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 JuiceBoswellia Carterii Oil is also known as Frankincense oil. It has a warm, spicy, smokey, and woody aroma.
Calendula Officinalis Extract comes from the common Marigold plant.
Marigold flowers contain flavonoids. Flavonoids are a group of substances found naturally in plants. They possess antioxidant and inflammation properties.
This ingredient may help soothe your skin by reducing inflammation. Emerging studies show it inhibits nitrous oxide production safely, therefore reducing inflammation.
Marigolds have been used in traditional medicine throughout Asia and Europe.
Learn more about Calendula Officinalis ExtractThis ingredient is also known as Ylang Ylang essential oil.
There are several grades of this oil according to when the flowers are obtained so the exact makeup varies by origin, grade, and extraction.
In cosmetics, its job is mostly sensory: it has a sweet, floral scent often used in perfume.
Chemically, it's complex mix of fragrant molecules: geraniol, limonene, linalool and benzyl benzoate.
Several of these components are on the EU's list of recognized fragrance allergens; this means they have to be labeled when present above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
This ingredient is a known contact sensitizer for a small amount of people so it's definitely worth patch-testing if your skin is reactive.
Lab studies have found the oils does have real antioxidant and antibacterial activity, but keep in mind these are in-vitro findings rather than proven skincare benefits.
Learn more about Cananga Odorata Flower OilHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilLavandula Angustifolia Extract comes from the flowers and leaves of the lavender plant. It's mostly used in skincare for its scent plus a bit of skin conditioning properties.
Lab research credits it with soothing, antioxidant, and wound-supporting effects. This is largely thanks to a compound called rosmarinic acid.
Rosmarinic acid has been shown to calm inflammation signaling in skin cells (the same pathways that flare up in conditions like eczema and psoriasis). It also has real antimicrobial and antifungal activity in test-tube studies.
This ingredient is typically used in low concentrations (generally well under 1%) where it acts as a light fragrance + mild skin soother extract.
The main thing to know is that lavender contains two naturally fragrant molecules: Linalool and Linalyl Acetate. Some people's skin does perfectly fine with fragrance while others don't.
Just be sure to patch test if you have reactive skin or known plant allergies.
Linalool and Linalyl Acetate are gentle when fresh but oxidize into compounds that can cause allergic contact dermatitis when exposed to air. Patch-test studies of patients already being investigated for skin allergies found about 5-7% of patients had reactions to oxidized linalool, and 2.8% of patients reacted to oxidized lavender oil.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia ExtractWe don't have a description for Pelargonium Graveolens Water yet.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidXanthan 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 GumThis is not an INCI ingredient.
According to a manufacturer, this blend has the following INCI names:
