What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C16 Olefin Sulfonate
EmulsifyingCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Officinalis Extract
Antimicrobial
Water, Sodium C16 Olefin Sulfonate, Coco-Betaine, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Gluconate, Lactic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingGlycol Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Glycol Stearate, Glycerin, Parfum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Panthenol, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Beta-Carotene, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol
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 JuiceCaprylhydroxamic Acid is a chelating agent that helps cosmetics stay fresh, stable, and consistent over time.
Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted reactions and effects from using the product. It also helps prevent the growth of unwanted microbes in products that contain water.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is often used with natural antimicrobial products as an alternative to preservatives.
Learn more about Caprylhydroxamic AcidCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideWater. 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
