What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantSorbic Acid
PreservativeC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeResveratrol
AntioxidantCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialUbiquinone
AntioxidantEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Tocopherol
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Extract
AntioxidantPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentCitrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
CleansingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Cetearyl Alcohol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Glyceryl Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium PCA, Sorbic Acid, C10-18 Triglycerides, Xanthan Gum, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Resveratrol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Citric Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ubiquinone, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingDimethyl Sulfone
SolventTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Stearate
CleansingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingPEG-20 Evening Primrose Glycerides
EmulsifyingRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
AntimicrobialPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingArnica Montana Flower Oil
PerfumingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPelargonium Graveolens Oil
MaskingSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingZingiber Officinale Root Oil
MaskingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Dimethyl Sulfone, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Beeswax, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Stearate, Ascorbic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, PEG-20 Evening Primrose Glycerides, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Pantothenic Acid, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Arnica Montana Flower Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Sodium Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root 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 is a plant material from the leaves of the aloe, Aloe barbadensis, Liliaceae
Aloe leaves contain the antioxidants Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins neutralize free radicals.
It also contains sugars in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, choline, many common minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
Polysaccharides help hydrate your skin by mimicking your skin's natural carbohydrates.
Aloe leaves contain many components that are known to help reduce irritation and itchiness. These include vitamins, amino acids, polysaccharides, and more. The high water content of aloe also helps give a cooling effect. This makes aloe an effective sunburn reliever.
Despite helping heal sunburns, aloe does not protect your skin against UV damage. Aloe should not replace your sunscreen.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis LeafThis ingredient is also known as coconut oil. It is a plant-derived ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
The fatty acid profile of coconut oil is mostly lauric acid (~54%), followed by capric, caprylic, palmitic, and myristic acids. This profile allows it to penetrate easily into skin, moisturize, and improve dry skin.
A double-blind study confirmed that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective as mineral oil for treating very dry skin. Another study found it outperformed mineral oil for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children.
Another study from 2018 found that virgin coconut oil can soothe inflammation and boost key skin barrier proteins. Just know this evidence is still only from lab settings and not human trials.
It has also been shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly overgrows in people with eczema.
Clinical testing shows very minimal skin irritation and no evidence of sensitization or phototoxicity.
Coconut oil gets flagged as a "fragrance" because it has a natural mild scent (not because it's a synthetic perfume). The European Cosmetic ingredient database also lists "perfuming" as a function of this ingredient.
Just so you know, the term "fragrance" is completely unregulated. Some brands still use botanical extracts or essential oils in their "fragrance-free" formulas, but regulatory databases technically classify these under "fragrance".
Coconut oil has a tiny and useless bit of natural SPF. Early lab studies clocked it around SPF 7-8 but a more recent study found the real number closer to SPF 1.2. It also offers no meaningful UVA protection (SPF only overs UVB rays).
The comedogenic rating of 4/5 means it has a high potential to clog pores; but it's worth noting that comedogenicity is highly individual and ratings cannot predict how an overall formula will behave on skin.
Since lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between 11-24, and lauric acid falls within these lengths (C12).
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera OilEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateWater. 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