What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
Solvent3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMannitol
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingGlycogen
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingPhenylpropanol
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialWaltheria Indica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Mannitol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycogen, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Dextrin, Ferulic Acid, Waltheria Indica Leaf Extract, CI 15985
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 a botanical extract pulled from the leaves of aloe vera and one of the most studied plant ingredients in cosmetics.
The inner leaf gel it comes from is mostly water (~99-99.5%) and the remaining fraction is made up of pretty good stuff: polysaccharides, vitamins, phenolics, and enzymes.
Its headline job is hydration.
The star polysaccharide in aloe, acemannan, is a humectant that retains moisture and helps reduce trans-epidermal water loss.
Aloe also has real soothing credentials; it contains anti-inflammatory compounds like bradykinase and C-glucosyl chromone that help calm irritation and redness.
On the repair side, lab work shows that acemannan wakes up your skin's repair cells (fibroblasts), prompting them to multiply and speed up healing.
There's some human data for cosmetic benefit too: a cream containing 10% Aloe Barbadensis leaf extract improved skin hydration and elasticity in a real-use study.
Safety-wise, this ingredient is well-regarded with just one rare downside; there have been some case reports of acute eczema, contact urticaria, and dermatitis in people who applied aloe-derived ingredients topically. Those with a known aloe or Liliaceae sensitivity should patch test.
Typical use levels range widely, from under 1% up to 90%+ depending on the format and the effect you are after.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractDisodium 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 EDTAWater. 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