What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCeteareth-50
CleansingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingAmmonia
BufferingOleth-3
EmulsifyingOleic Acid
EmollientParfum
MaskingEthanolamine
BufferingSodium Sulfite
PreservativeEDTA
Erythorbic Acid
AntioxidantPolyquaternium-22
Toluene-2,5-Diamine Sulfate
Bisabolol
Antioxidant2-Amino-4-Hydroxyethylaminoanisole Sulfate
Benzyl Salicylate
PerfumingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningResorcinol
AntioxidantSilicone Quaternium-15
Linalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLaureth-4
EmulsifyingM-Aminophenol
Coumarin
PerfumingP-Aminophenol
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningOleth-5 Phosphate
Dioleyl Phosphate
BufferingAcetic Acid
BufferingLaureth-23
CleansingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-50, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Propylene Glycol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Ammonia, Oleth-3, Oleic Acid, Parfum, Ethanolamine, Sodium Sulfite, EDTA, Erythorbic Acid, Polyquaternium-22, Toluene-2,5-Diamine Sulfate, Bisabolol, 2-Amino-4-Hydroxyethylaminoanisole Sulfate, Benzyl Salicylate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Resorcinol, Silicone Quaternium-15, Linalool, Limonene, Laureth-4, M-Aminophenol, Coumarin, P-Aminophenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Oleth-5 Phosphate, Dioleyl Phosphate, Acetic Acid, Laureth-23, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientLaureth-3
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantAmmonia
BufferingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningOleth-5 Phosphate
Creatine
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes
EmollientHydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantDioleyl Phosphate
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Sulfite
PreservativePolyquaternium-22
Erythorbic Acid
AntioxidantToluene-2,5-Diamine Sulfate
2-Methylresorcinol
M-Aminophenol
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePotassium Hydroxide
BufferingEDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Laureth-3, Propylene Glycol, Ammonia, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Oleth-5 Phosphate, Creatine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Oryza Sativa Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Dioleyl Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Sodium Sulfite, Polyquaternium-22, Erythorbic Acid, Toluene-2,5-Diamine Sulfate, 2-Methylresorcinol, M-Aminophenol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Potassium Hydroxide, EDTA, Citric Acid
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 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 JuiceAmmonia can cause irritation.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineWe don't have a description for Dioleyl Phosphate yet.
EDTA is the shortened name for ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. It is a chelating agent and used to stabilize products.
Chelating Agents are used to prevent trace metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This can prevent unwanted reactions or changed efficacy of products.
Erythorbic Acid is an antioxidant.
We don't have a description for M-Aminophenol yet.
We don't have a description for Oleth-5 Phosphate yet.
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilWe don't have a description for Polyquaternium-22 yet.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropylene 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 GlycolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium Sulfite is a preservative. Preservatives help prevent mold and bacteria from growing in cosmetics.
This ingredient has been shown to break the bonds in hair, acting as a natural straightener.
It is commonly used in food. It should be noted sodium sulfite degrades both vitamins B1 and E.
Fun fact: Sulfites are naturally occuring in wine.
Learn more about Sodium SulfiteToluene-2,5-Diamine Sulfate is a type of sulfate.
Water. 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