What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Bentonite
Absorbent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Sclareolide
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Jasminum Officinale Extract
Masking
Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract
Masking
Water, Kaolin, Bentonite, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, CI 77891, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Sclareolide, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Jasminum Officinale Extract, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Brassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Junos Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Honey
Humectant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialNeural Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Kaolin
Abrasive
Illite
Abrasive
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-2 Cocoate
Emulsifying
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Polysorbate 20, Cetrimonium Chloride, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Citrus Junos Peel Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Honey, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Neural Extract, Glycerin, Mentha Piperita Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Kaolin, Illite, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycereth-2 Cocoate
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 JuiceCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilKaolin is a clay. It is used for oil control and to help minimize pores. Like other clays, kaolin has the ability to absorb excess sebum or oil. This can help clean out pores and mattify the skin.
Some types of kaolin may have exfoliating properties. When water is added to kaolin, it becomes a paste with small abrasive particles.
Most kaolin is a white color, but may be pink/orange/red depending on where it comes from.
The name 'kaolin' comes from a Chinese village named 'Gaoling'. Kaolin clay comes from rocks rich in kaolinite. Kaolinite, the mineral, has a silicate layered structure. Kaolinite is formed from chemical weathering of aluminum siilicate minerals.
Besides skincare, kaolin is commonly used to make glossy paper, in ceramics, toothpaste, and as medicine to soothe stomach issues.
Learn more about KaolinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil is an essential oil also known as rosemary essential oil. In skincare, it is a skin conditioning agent and also acts as a natural fragrance that gives products a fresh/herby smell.
The oil is a mix of over 100 volatile compounds with 1,8-cineole, α-pinene, camphor, and verbenone usually leading the pack.
Lab studies credit this oil with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity. Some research even show rosemary compounds calming acne-related inflammation.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be nonsensitizing.
Since this is a fragrant essential oil, the main concern is for fragrance-sensitive folks.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf OilWater. 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
