What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hyaluronic Acid 20%
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Menthol
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Citrate
BufferingMenthoxypropanediol
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hyaluronic Acid 20%, Saccharide Isomerate, Tocopherol, Caffeine, Water, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hydroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Menthol, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate, Menthoxypropanediol, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 42090, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Azulene
Skin Conditioning
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA-Copper
AstringentCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycereth-26, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Azulene, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Disodium EDTA-Copper, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide
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 JuiceCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium 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 HyaluronateSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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
