What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Ascorbic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Thioctic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Olibanum
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Cocoyl/Stearoyl (Alanine/Arginine/Asparagine/Aspartic Acid/Glutamic Acid/Glutamine/Glycine/Histidine/Isoleucine/Leucine/Lysine/Phenylalanine/Proline/Serine/Threonine/Tyrosine/Valine)
Emollient
Phenylalanine
Masking
Argania Spinosa Sprout Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil
Masking
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Squalane, Propanediol, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Bakuchiol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Olibanum, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Sodium Cocoyl/Stearoyl (Alanine/Arginine/Asparagine/Aspartic Acid/Glutamic Acid/Glutamine/Glycine/Histidine/Isoleucine/Leucine/Lysine/Phenylalanine/Proline/Serine/Threonine/Tyrosine/Valine), Phenylalanine, Argania Spinosa Sprout Cell Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Thioctic Acid, Lactic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 ExtractCamellia Sinensis Extract is from the oil in tea plant leaves. The leaves give us various types of tea: green, black, oolong, and white.
Camellia Sinensis leaves have many benefits. It contains polyphenols, a strong antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight off free-radical molecules that damage skin cells. The antioxidants in green tea neutralize free-radicals from the sun. This gives the skin some extra UV protection, but should not replace sunscreen.
Many components of tea have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Polyphenols and L-theanine help soothe the skin and reduce irritation. L-theanine is an amino acid that makes up most of the amino acids found in tea leaves. The caffeine in Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract helps calm inflamed blood vessels.
Tea leaves also contain Vitamin Bs, linoleic acid, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc.
Research has shown both drinking Camellia Sinensis Leaf Tea and applying it to the skin can help boost skin elasticity and hydration. Studies also show using tea extract may reduce sebum, or oil, production.
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis ExtractCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidThioctic Acid is an enzyme and antioxidant. A more common name for this is Alpha Lipoic Acid.
Alpha Lipoic Acid can be naturally found in the mitochondria of every cell.
Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. The antioxidants in Alpha Lipoic Acid have been shown to fight damage from cigarette smoke.
Studies also show Alpha Lipoic Acid plays a role in wound healing.
Thioctic Acid will break down when exposed to sunlight.
Many foods contain thioctic acid, including tomato, brussel sprouts, spinach, and broccoli.
Learn more about Thioctic AcidWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
