This acne treatment is formulated around Zinc Oxide and Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and balance excess oil.
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Snail Secretion Filtrate to calm redness and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantCamphor
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium EDTA
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid
Skin ConditioningSebacic Acid
Buffering1,10-Decanediol
SolventPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Isomerized Safflower Acid
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Benzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Kaolin
Abrasive
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Zinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Alcohol Denat., Zinc Oxide, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Water, Ethoxydiglycol, Camphor, Silica, Salicylic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Chlorphenesin, CI 77491, Disodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Zinc PCA, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Maltodextrin, Polysorbate 80, 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid, Sebacic Acid, 1,10-Decanediol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Isomerized Safflower Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ascorbic Acid, Beeswax, Benzalkonium Chloride, Kaolin, Palmitic Acid, Zinc Sulfate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingMethylpropanediol
SolventCollagen
Moisturising
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Carbomer, Snail Secretion Filtrate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Triethanolamine, Methylpropanediol, Collagen, Arbutin, Phenoxyethanol, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Parfum, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract
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 is the filtered, stabilized liquid pressed from the inner gel of the aloe vera leaf.
In cosmetics, it shows up as either soothing active or a water-replacement base. It is roughly 98-99% water and the last 1-2% is an interesting mix of polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.
The polysaccharides do most of the work: they bind water at the skin surface for a light, non-greasy hydration boost. And one of the polysaccharides, glycomannan, is linked to fibroblast stimulation + collagen synthesis. This is also why aloe has such a long track record in wound and burn healing.
This ingredient is also calming with anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity, making it a great pick for sensitive, irritated, or post-sun skin.
Realistic expectations matter though; the solid evidence is mostly limited to hydration, soothing, and wound support. Deeper claims about anti-aging or sun protection are not well backed, and science reviews note it does not prevent radiation-induced skin injury.
Because it plays well with almost everything, it's commonly used as a base alongside other actives like niacinamide or vitamin C.
Typical usage concentrations range from 0.5% (where hydration benefits already show up) all the way to 90%+ (where it replaces water as the main base).
The safety for this ingredient is well-establish as well. Overall, this is a great supporting ingredient for those who want a boost in hydration.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about Phenoxyethanol
