Fresh Skinlab Jeju Aloe Ice 3 In 1 Niacinamide Soothing Gel Lotion Versus Nature Republic Mild & Moisture Aloe Vera Watery Gel
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder to calm redness and hydrate skin.
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Sodium Hyaluronate to calm redness and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantStearic Acid
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCalcium Pantothenate
Maltodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningMenthol
MaskingSilica
AbrasiveWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Polysorbate 60, Hyaluronic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pyridoxine, Menthol, Silica
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialPropylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingC12-14 Pareth-12
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingGlycerin
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Carbomer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tromethamine, C12-14 Pareth-12, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglutamic Acid, Mentha Viridis Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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