What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Twig Extract
AstringentTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventTocopherol
Antioxidant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Phytic Acid
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Twig Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Betaine, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Dimethyl Sulfone, Tocopherol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Retinol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phytic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Althaea Rosea Flower Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Emulsifying Wax Nf
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol 1%
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Emulsifying Wax Nf, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Beta-Glucan, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinol, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Phenoxyethanol 1%, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 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 JuiceYou may know this ingredient as argan oil. It has emollient and skin conditioning properties that help soften skin and reinforce the lipid barrier.
The fatty acid profile of argan oil is roughly 45-55% oleic acid, 28-36% linoleic acid, 10-15% palmitic acid, and 5-7% stearic acid. It also contains vitamin E, sterols, squalene, and polyphenols like ferulic acid.
Two clinical studies in postmenopausal women found that applying argan oil for 60 days significantly improved skin elasticity and moisturization (reduced transepidermal water loss and increased epidermal water content).
Since it is high in oleic and linoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Both of these fall in the C11-C24 range that Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Argania Spinosa Kernel OilGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidRetinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
