What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sorbitol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Polyquaternium-67
Papain
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientArachidic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vinegar
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Oleic Acid
Emollient
CI 77004
Cosmetic ColorantMineral Salts
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Water, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Butylene Glycol, Glucose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Chloride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sorbitol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Benzoate, Polyquaternium-67, Papain, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Arachidic Acid, Lauric Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate, Propanediol, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Vinegar, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Oleic Acid, CI 77004, Mineral Salts, Citric Acid, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Disodium EDTA
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Solum Diatomeae
Abrasive
Kaolin
Abrasive
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingChlorella Vulgaris Powder
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Radiatus Seed Powder
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Powder
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactuca Scariola Sativa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Glycol Distearate, Solum Diatomeae, Kaolin, Zea Mays Starch, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Beeswax, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Morus Alba Root Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Powder, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Powder, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Powder, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactuca Scariola Sativa Leaf Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Water, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Reviews
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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.Â
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 ExtractButylene 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 GlycolCitrus Limon Fruit Extract comes from lemons. While lemon extract is exfoliating and antimicrobial, it can also cause skin sensitivity.
Lemons contains antioxidants, which may help with anti-aging. They are also rich in citric acid, an AHA.
And of course, lemons are rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps with skin-brightening and increasing collagen production.
The acidity of lemons may work as an astringent for acne.
However, lemons can also cause skin sensitivity due to its limonene content. It can also increase photosensitivity, or sensitivity to the sun.
This ingredient is also used to add a lemon scent to products.
Learn more about Citrus Limon Fruit ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateLauric Acid is a saturated fatty acid naturally found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and even breast milk.
In cosmetics, it is an:
Lab studies have found that lauric acid is surprisingly good at killing acne-causing bacteria. However, these tests were done on bacteria in a petri dish and not on real skin, so we can't say for certain it works the same in a formulation on a real face.
The comedogenic rating of 4 comes from the 1972 rabbit ear model using undiluted ingredients. Comedogenicity is highly individual and one comedogenic ingredient cannot predict how a formula will behave on skin.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe and research has confirmed Malassezia can use it as a food source.
Learn more about Lauric AcidMyristic Acid is a saturated fatty acid. It is naturally found in milk fat. Other sources include palm oil, coconut oil, and butter fat.
Myristic Acid is an emulsifer and cleanser. As an emulsifer, it stabilizes a product by preventing ingredients from separating. Myristic Acid helps clean your skin by acting as a surfactant. It tends to gather oil and dirt on your skin to be easily rinsed away.
One study from 2021 found Myristic Acid to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Myristic AcidPotassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
