What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Silk Extract
Skin ConditioningPhragmites Communis Extract
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDioscorea Opposita Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Saponaria Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Water, Propylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycerin, Tranexamic Acid, Allantoin, Zea Mays Silk Extract, Phragmites Communis Extract, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Dioscorea Opposita Root Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sparassis Crispa Extract
Emulsion StabilisingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-37
Skin Conditioning
Water, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beta-Glucan, Sparassis Crispa Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-37
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
