What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingCocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTetrasodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Cocamide Mipa, Salicylic Acid, Panthenol, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Sodium PCA, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tetrasodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Squalane
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
CleansingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Xylitol
Humectant
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Squalane, Betaine, Gluconolactone, Salicylic Acid, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Panthenol, Zinc PCA, Allantoin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Xylitol, Coco-Glucoside, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol
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 Extract is a botanical extract pulled from the leaves of aloe vera and one of the most studied plant ingredients in cosmetics.
The inner leaf gel it comes from is mostly water (~99-99.5%) and the remaining fraction is made up of pretty good stuff: polysaccharides, vitamins, phenolics, and enzymes.
Its headline job is hydration.
The star polysaccharide in aloe, acemannan, is a humectant that retains moisture and helps reduce trans-epidermal water loss.
Aloe also has real soothing credentials; it contains anti-inflammatory compounds like bradykinase and C-glucosyl chromone that help calm irritation and redness.
On the repair side, lab work shows that acemannan wakes up your skin's repair cells (fibroblasts), prompting them to multiply and speed up healing.
There's some human data for cosmetic benefit too: a cream containing 10% Aloe Barbadensis leaf extract improved skin hydration and elasticity in a real-use study.
Safety-wise, this ingredient is well-regarded with just one rare downside; there have been some case reports of acute eczema, contact urticaria, and dermatitis in people who applied aloe-derived ingredients topically. Those with a known aloe or Liliaceae sensitivity should patch test.
Typical use levels range widely, from under 1% up to 90%+ depending on the format and the effect you are after.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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
