What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Citrus Limon Fiber
Emulsion StabilisingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Carica Papaya Fruit Juice
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingOenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Citrus Limon Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Citrus Limon Fiber, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Stearic Acid, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glycerin, Carica Papaya Fruit Juice, Triethanolamine, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Limon Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Parfum, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
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 JuiceGlycerin (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 GlycerinStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic Acid
