What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSteareth-21
CleansingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Whey Protein
Skin ConditioningJojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSodium PCA
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Squalene
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
EDTA
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Water, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Steareth-21, Jojoba Esters, Petrolatum, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Salicylic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Isohexadecane, Ubiquinone, Whey Protein, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Bisabolol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Phytosterols, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Lactate, Methyl Gluceth-20, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Sodium PCA, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Squalene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Methylparaben, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propylene Glycol, Tocopherol, EDTA, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Potassium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 60
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Arginine
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHistidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentGeranium Maculatum Extract
TonicTaraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Pantothenic Acid, Sodium Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium PCA, Lactic Acid, Arginine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Hyaluronic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Niacinamide, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Carbomer, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Centella Asiatica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20
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 JuiceEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateSodium PCA (the salt of PCA) is one of the most well-established humectants in skincare.
Why is it so special? Your skin already makes it naturally; it's a natural component of your skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), or the mix of water-binding compounds inside your skin cells that keeps things soft and hydrated.
As a cosmetic ingredient, it grabs water and holds it in the upper layers of skin to smooth roughness and ease dehydration.
There's some clinical support for the NMF approach with a study showing that a cream built to mimic the skin's NMF significantly boosted hydration.
Safety-wise, this ingredient non-irritating, non-comedogenic, and non-phototoxic in testing, with minimal skin absorption.
It also works really well with other hydrators like glycerin or hyaluronic acid, and typical usage is somewhere between 0.2-4%.
Learn more about Sodium PCATocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol
