What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingMentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Lactobacillus, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningZinc Acetylmethionate
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingPeumus Boldus Leaf Extract
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingRhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract
HumectantMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingCinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil
MaskingCupressus Sempervirens Oil
MaskingTropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPropanediol
SolventDisodium EDTA
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningCitronellol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitral
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Allantoin, Zinc Acetylmethionate, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Oil, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Copper Gluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Propanediol, Disodium EDTA, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Citronellol, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Xanthan Gum, Citral, Citric Acid
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 JuiceButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDisodium 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 EDTALimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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