What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePanthenol
Skin ConditioningSilk Amino Acids
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningQuaternium-80
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Behentrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Silk Amino Acids, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Quaternium-80, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Parfum, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate
EmollientParfum
MaskingPropanediol
SolventSilicone Quaternium-22
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeOlive Oil PEG-8 Esters
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Caprate
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyquaternium-11
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPolyquaternium-10
Propylene Glycol
HumectantPalmitamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
HumectantCinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningSoy Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningPotassium Lactate
BufferingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventLactic Acid
BufferingArginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingThreonine
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin ProtectingTrigonella Foenum-Graecum Seed Extract
PerfumingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Dimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate, Parfum, Propanediol, Silicone Quaternium-22, Phenoxyethanol, Olive Oil PEG-8 Esters, Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-11, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Polyquaternium-10, Propylene Glycol, Palmitamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Fructooligosaccharides, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Chloride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Zea Mays Starch, Wheat Amino Acids, Soy Amino Acids, Potassium Lactate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Arginine Hcl, Serine, Threonine, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Trigonella Foenum-Graecum Seed Extract, Biotin, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Linalool
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 JuiceLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPropylene 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