What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingParfum
MaskingPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientHelichrysum Italicum Flower Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBuddleja Officinalis Flower Extract
UV FilterHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Pulp Extract
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Phytate
Alcohol
AntimicrobialPropanediol
SolventCitronellol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Parfum, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Isoamyl Laurate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Helichrysum Italicum Flower Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Adansonia Digitata Pulp Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Phytate, Alcohol, Propanediol, Citronellol, Linalool
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientAmorphophallus Konjac Root Extract
HumectantHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialPropanediol
SolventBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingSqualene
EmollientDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Glycerin, Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Isoamyl Laurate, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Anisate, Propanediol, Benzyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene, Dehydroacetic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Limonene
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 comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.
Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.
It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
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 GlycerinIsoamyl Laurate is created from isoamyl alcohol and lauric acid. It is an emollient and traps moisture underneath.
This ingredient helps give products a silky feel and is considered a silicone alternative.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Isoamyl LaurateParfum 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 ParfumPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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