What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Glutathione
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pearl Powder
Collagen
Moisturising
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Perlite
Absorbent
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Cysteine
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Crocus Chrysanthus Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Glutathione
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Aminobutyric Acid
Sh-Polypeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantPichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Pullulan
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Manganese PCA
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Cysteine, Allantoin, Crocus Chrysanthus Bulb Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glutathione, Ergothioneine, Aminobutyric Acid, Sh-Polypeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Propylene Glycol, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Pullulan, Sodium PCA, Magnesium PCA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Zinc PCA, Maltodextrin, Manganese PCA, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid
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 ExtractGlutathione is an antioxidant naturally found in our bodies. It is made up of three amino acids: glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid.
As an antioxidant, it prevents oxidative damage to parts of our cell.
While glutathione is said to help with fading dark spots, the results from research are inconclusive. Further studies are needed. With that said, gluthatione has been shown to protect our skin from UV-B induced damage.
This ingredient is naturally occurring in plants, animals, fungi, and some bacteria.
Learn more about GlutathioneLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is the salt of ascorbic acid.
This ingredient is commonly used in skincare because it's more formulation-stable while still offering the same benefits as pure ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and oxygen whereas SAP has been shown to be more stable.
Studies show SAP has anti-acne and antioxidant benefits. One study found 5% of SAP lotion to be an effective ingredient for treating acne vulgaris. This is because research shows that SAP may help control acne by reducing acne-causing bacteria and slowing the oxidation of skin oils caused by UV exposure.
In addition to acne, vitamin C is important for skin structure. Lab studies suggest SAP may support collagen production in skin cells, making it a great ingredient in anti-aging routines.
Vitamin C has many benefits: it helps reduce redness, improve skin texture, fade the appearance of dark spots, and brighten the skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Sodium Ascorbyl PhosphateWater. 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
