What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Glycerin
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMenthol
Masking
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPiroctone Olamine
Preservative
Sarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Propanediol, Betaine, Polysorbate 20, Lactic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Benzyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Capryloyl Glycine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Menthol, Menthyl Lactate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Piroctone Olamine, Sarcosine, Xylitylglucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingMenthol
Masking
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Capryloyl Glycine, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Menthol, Menthyl Lactate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Gluconate, Mentha Piperita Oil, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Anisate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Cellulose Gum, Xylitylglucoside
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Capryloyl Glycine is created by adding an acyl group to glycine and caprylic acid chloride.
It is a cleanser due to its surfactant properties. Surfactants help dirt, oil, and other polluants be more easily rinsed away. According to manufacturers, Capryloyl Glycine also helps soften the skin and regulate sebum production.
Emerging studies show Capryloyl Glycine may inhibit hair growth. It may also cause allergies for some people. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any questions about this ingredient.
Learn more about Capryloyl GlycineGlycerin (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 GlycerinHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolMenthol is a compound found in mint plants, such as peppermint. In its pure form, it is a clear crystalline substance.
Menthol is known for its cooling sensation; however, the cooling is actually from your skin being sensitized. Menthol can worsen rosacea. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Menthol also has antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about MentholMenthyl lactate is an ester of menthol and lactic acid. It is often used as a cooling agent and fragrance.
When applied topically, this ingredient leaves a refreshing sensation like menthol, but is less irritating.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HydroxideTocopherol 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 WaterXylitylglucoside is created from xylitol and glucose, two humectants.
Not surprisingly, this ingredient is also a humectant. It attracts and holds water in your skin, helping to maintain hydration.
This ingredient is most commonly found in a popular trio called Aquaxyl. Aquaxyl is made up of anhydroxylitol(24 - 34%), xylitylglucoside (35 - 50%), and xylitol (5 - 15%).
According to a manufacturer, Aquaxyl is known for a 3-D hydration concept and an anti-dehydration shield to reinforce the outer layer of skin.
Learn more about Xylitylglucoside
