What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Propanediol
Solvent
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Algae Extract
EmollientMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Silver
Cosmetic ColorantHoney Extract
Humectant
Menthol
Masking
Usnea Barbata Extract
Maranta Arundinacea Root Powder
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
Tonic
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Acetaldehyde
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Alcohol, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Propanediol, Polysorbate 80, Algae Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Silver, Honey Extract, Menthol, Usnea Barbata Extract, Maranta Arundinacea Root Powder, Glycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Saccharomyces Ferment, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Tromethamine, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Acetaldehyde, Sodium Hydroxide, Isopropyl Alcohol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
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 JuiceHamamelis Virginiana Water is made by distilling parts of the witch hazel plant. You can also call this ingredient "witch hazel water".
The name 'Hamamelis Virginiana Water' refers to the distillation product used in cosmetics. On the other hand, 'Witch Hazel' refers to the active drug ingredient.
Unless it is specified to be non-alcohol, many types of witch hazel ingredients are distilled in denatured alcohol.
Witch Hazel water is an astringent, anti-inflammatory antioxidant, and antibacterial ingredient.
It contains tannins. Tannins have a drying effect when used on skin by constricting proteins. The constriction also minimizes the appearance of pores.
Both the tannins and fragrance found in witch hazel may be skin-sensitizing.
Witch hazel water gets anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties from its catechin and gallic acid content.
Indigenous groups have used witch hazel to help treat inflammation in North America for centuries.
Learn more about Hamamelis Virginiana WaterLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilThis ingredient is also known as tea tree oil. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Tea tree oil is a complex lipophilic (fat-loving) oil that contains around 100 compounds with terpinen-4-ol being the most abundant (~40%).
Terpinen-4-ol is responsible for tea tree oil's broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and makes it a well-researched option for acne.
Clinical studies support 5% tea tree oil as an effective topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. A study with 124 patients compared 5% tea tree oil gel to 5% benzoyl peroxide and both reduced acne (though tea tree oil worked more slowly).
Besides acne, it is also seen in anti-dandruff shampoos and scalp treatments for it's antimicrobial and anti-seborrheic properties.
Safety-wise, the allergic potential of low concentrations on healthy skin is considered low. However, oxidized (old or improperly stored) tea tree oil is a stronger sensitizer.
Irritation can also occur if using the undiluted oil on skin; it's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted cosmetic formula. This is because regulations require tea tree oil in cosmetics to be stabilized to prevent degradation.
This ingredient has been deemed safe up to 2% in shampoo, 1% in cleansers, and 0.1% in face cream by the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).
There is some lab evidence that tea tree oil is antifungal against Malassezia, but it is a supportive option at best and not a replacement for proven antifungal treatments.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSaccharomyces Ferment is what you get when you ferment yeast from Saccharomyces genus and keep the ferment rather than just the strained liquid.
You can think of it like the water-like version of Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate.
As yeast eats through its growth medium, it leaves behind a nutrient soup of amino acids, peptides, vitamins, and minerals.
The component with the most actual research behind it, beta-glucan, is a polysaccharide that acts as a barrier-supportive humectant with antioxidant and skin-soothing properties.
Typical use concentrations range from 1-3%.
Fungal acne: This ingredient may not be considered fungal-acne safe. Even though Saccharomyces isn't the same yeast as Malassezia, fermentation can produce fatty acids in the C11-24 range that Malassezia feeds on.
Learn more about Saccharomyces FermentWater. 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
