What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningCassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientRetinol
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Extract
AntioxidantPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingParfum
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Isopropyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Retinol, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Propolis Extract, Xanthan Gum, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Parfum
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantOvum Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCandelilla Cera
EmollientButter
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingPunica Granatum Sterols
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientRetinol
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningCoconut Oil Decyl Esters
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingAlgae
Skin ConditioningBifida Polysaccharide
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Squalane, Glycerin, Ovum Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Candelilla Cera, Butter, Bisabolol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Punica Granatum Sterols, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Retinol, Lecithin, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide As, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Astaxanthin, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Poria Cocos Extract, Coconut Oil Decyl Esters, Hyaluronic Acid, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Algae, Bifida Polysaccharide, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
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 JuiceThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterGlycerin (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 GlycerinRetinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil