What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyquaternium-10
Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Incarnata Extract
AstringentNelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Cichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Acrylates Copolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydroxyacetophenone, Propanediol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Polyquaternium-10, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract, Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Cupressus Sempervirens Branch/Leaf Oil
Masking
Citrus Latifolia Peel Oil
Masking
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Glucoside, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Branch/Leaf Oil, Citrus Latifolia Peel Oil, Saccharide Isomerate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Cocamide Mipa, O-Cymen-5-Ol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
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 JuiceCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a surfactant that helps water and oil mix so that dirt, sweat, sebum, and sunscreen can rinse away easily. It's not technically a sulfate, but behaves similarly in formulas.
What it does:
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a strong cleansing surfactant and is much stronger than many mild cleansers. Because it works deeply, it can disrupt the skin's barrier. This can lead to dryness or irritation for those with sensitive skin.
Compared to gentler surfactants, it's effective but more likely to dry or irritate if not balanced with soothing ingredients.
CIR considers sodium α-olefin sulfonates (including C14-16) to be safe for use in rinse-off products when properly formulated. It is poorly absorbed through normal skin but absorption increases if the skin barrier is already damaged.
Learn more about Sodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateTocopherol 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 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
