What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingXylitylglucoside
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Amino Acids
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantHoney Extract
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSarcosine
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingXylitol
HumectantLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
PerfumingPropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Phytate
Boswellia Serrata Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningElettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract
PerfumingPistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Propolis Extract, Glycerin, Sodium Lactate, Xylitylglucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Anhydroxylitol, Honey Extract, Beta-Glucan, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sarcosine, Lactic Acid, Xylitol, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Propylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Magnesium Aspartate, Potassium Aspartate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder comes from the aloe plant.
You may know Aloe to be a good sunburn reliever and inflammation reducer. This is because it contains many components that are known to help reduce irritation and itchiness.
Aloe leaves are also great moisturizers. They are naturally rich in polysaccharides, a carbohydrate made of sugars. Polysaccharides are able to mimic the carbs found in the top layer of your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
Aloe contains the antioxidants Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins neutralize free radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe does not protect against UV rays, despite it soothing sunburns.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice PowderGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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