What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ribose
HumectantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Chondrus Crispus
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Squalane, C10-18 Triglycerides, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Ribose, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopherol, Chondrus Crispus, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caffeine, P-Anisic Acid, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Sodium Hydroxide, Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingMyristamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Phosphate
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Propanediol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Betaine, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Potassium Phosphate, Myristamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Dipotassium Phosphate, Allantoin, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Bisabolol, Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Citric Acid
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 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 PowderThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlyceryl Stearate Citrate is a citric acid ester of glyceryl stearate.
It is an emulsifier, emollient, and a surfactant.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating. Common ingredients include oils and water, which do not mix naturally. Emulsifiers have properties that help keep ingredients such as these together.
Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Surfactants help gather oils, dirt, and other pollutants from the skin. This helps them to be easily rinsed away.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate CitrateHydrogenated Vegetable Oil is created by adding hydrogen to vegetable oil in order to give it more stability. This process also raises the melting point of vegetable oil. In cosmetics, it is an emollient.
Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
The term "Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil" is an umbrella term and can refer to a variety of vegetable oils and blends of: sunflower oil, soybean oil, olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, and more.
Due to the differences in vegetables, the benefits may vary.
Learn more about Hydrogenated Vegetable OilPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWe don't have a description for Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract yet.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
