What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cellulose
AbsorbentCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingIsostearamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Gluconic Acid
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Arginine
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Squalene
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Water, Butylene Glycol, Cellulose, Carbomer, Isostearamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Propylene Glycol, Gluconic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Arginine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalene, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Polyquaternium-39
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ag
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Cera
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Buteth-3
SolventDisodium EDTA
Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Tributyl Citrate
SolventPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Water, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Lactobionic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Sodium Salicylate, Polyquaternium-39, Phenoxyethanol, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Allantoin, Ceramide Ag, Oryza Sativa Cera, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Buteth-3, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Tributyl Citrate, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Maltodextrin
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 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 ExtractDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTALactobionic Acid is a PHA. PHAs are the gentle cousins to AHAS.
Like AHAs, they exfoliate the top layer of skin. Lactobionic acid also exhibits significant antioxidant activity.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. This means they do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
By removing dead skin cells, PHAs leave the skin brighter and with even-texture.
Learn more about Lactobionic AcidMandelic Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA).
Like other AHAs, it helps exfoliate the surface of the skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
Mandelic acid helps with:
Due to it having a larger molecular size than glycolic acid, mandelic acid is able to penetrate the skin more slowly and evenly. This makes it gentler and less irritating, making it a great option for sensitive or beginner skin.
Despite being milder, mandelic acid is still an effective exfoliant that improves skin texture and tone over time.
What makes mandelic acid stand out from other AHAs? It has antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
These traits make it a great option for acne-prone or problem skin by reducing active breakouts and fading post-acne marks. Studies show that mandelic acid (especially when combined with salicylic acid) can significantly reduce pimples and hyperpigmentation while causing fewer side effects than stronger acids.
Mandelic acid is effective in concentrations of 5% and up with an ideal pH range of 3-4 for at-home use.
Like other AHAs, it’s important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your newly exfoliated skin.
However, unlike glycolic acid, mandelic acid is light-sensitive. Be sure your mandelic acid is packaged in opaque containers to ensure it stays stable and effective.
In short, mandelic acid is a gentle yet powerful AHA that exfoliates, brightens, and helps clarify skin while keeping irritation low. Its antibacterial action makes it especially beneficial for those with acne-prone, sensitive, or uneven skin, offering smoother, clearer, and more even-toned results over time.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Mandelic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolPropylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may develop a rash when using this ingredient.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
