What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPolyester-5
Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAlgae Extract
EmollientBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-2 Oleate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningStephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGentiana Scabra Extract
HumectantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyester-5, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Algae Extract, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Octyldodeceth-16, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Gentiana Scabra Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentAlcohol
AntimicrobialPropanediol
SolventVp/Va Copolymer
Glycereth-26
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSuccinic Acid
BufferingNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingStephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientZinc PCA
HumectantResveratrol
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantMalachite Extract
AntioxidantWater, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Alcohol, Propanediol, Vp/Va Copolymer, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Succinic Acid, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Zinc PCA, Resveratrol, Bisabolol, Malachite Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 EDTAPEG-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 OilWe don't have a description for Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract yet.
Water. 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