What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Withania Somnifera Extract 4%
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingRetinal 1%
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Lecithin
Emollient
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Cyclotetrapeptide-24 Aminocyclohexane Carboxylate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid 0.4%
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Propanediol, Withania Somnifera Extract 4%, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Citric Acid, Niacinamide, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Retinal 1%, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Lecithin, Ectoin, Cyclotetrapeptide-24 Aminocyclohexane Carboxylate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglutamic Acid 0.4%, Sodium Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Corn Gluten Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Collagen
Moisturising
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Yeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSilk Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Extract
Masking
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Corn Gluten Amino Acids, Sodium Polyglutamate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinol, Oligopeptide-1, Oligopeptide-2, Oligopeptide-5, Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen, Adenosine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Yeast Ferment Extract, Silk Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, Butylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol
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 Extract is an extract of the leaves of the aloe, Aloe barbadensis, Liliaceae.
Aloe is one of the most well-known natural soothing ingredients, and for good reason. It’s full of water and has a cooling, calming effect on the skin, especially when it’s sunburned, itchy, or irritated. Aloe also helps your skin stay hydrated and smooth by mimicking what healthy skin naturally produces. On top of that, it contains vitamins and nutrients that support skin recovery.
It doesn’t protect you from the sun, but it can help your skin bounce back after too much time in it.
Let’s get into the details:
Aloe contains antioxidant Vitamins A, C, and E, which help fight off free radicals (unstable molecules from things like pollution that can damage your skin).
It’s also rich in polysaccharides, which are natural sugars that help hydrate the skin by acting like the skin’s own moisturizing agents. These, along with other sugars like monosaccharides, help form a protective barrier that locks in moisture.
Aloe works as both a humectant and an emollient. That means it draws water into the skin (humectant) and helps trap it there (emollient), making it an effective natural moisturizer.
You’ll also find a mix of other skin-supporting ingredients in aloe, including folic acid, choline, calcium, amino acids, fatty acids, and even Vitamin B12.
Out of the 420+ species of aloe, Aloe barbadensis is the most widely used in skincare products thanks to its gentle yet effective properties.
There are over 420 species of aloe but Aloe Barbadensis is the most commonly used for topical products.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolWater. 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
