What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Seed Extract
Masking
Artemisia Princeps Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Aloe Barbadensis Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Morus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower/Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Extract
Antimicrobial
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Allantoin, Betaine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Paradisi Seed Extract, Artemisia Princeps Extract, Butylene Glycol, Polyglutamic Acid, Lactobacillus/Aloe Barbadensis Ferment Filtrate, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower/Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Extract, Water, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Limonene, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Princeps Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Zea Mays Kernel Extract
Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Acetate
Skin ConditioningEthanolamine
BufferingCitral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Artemisia Princeps Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Acetate, Ethanolamine, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Reviews
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 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 ExtractArtemisia Princeps Extract comes from the Japanese mugwort. This plant has been used in East Asian medicine for a long time and it earns its place in modern formulas as a soothing and barrier-supporting ingredient.
Lab studies show its flavonoid compounds (like eupatilin and jaceosidin) can calm inflammation by switching off one of the main "alarm" signals inside skin cells (NF-kB) and turning down several of the chemicals that drive redness and swelling.
It also acts as an antioxidant. It switched on the skin's own protective enzymes that help mop up free radicals in skin cells.
The barrier side is worth mentioning as well; a 2017 study found this extract boosted two proteins your skin needs for a strong, hydrated barrier (Filaggrin and Loricrin). This is likely why mugwort products tend to ease dryness and flaking in conditions like eczema.
Separate-skin moisture testing on volunteers showed a measurable jump in water content one hour after applying an Artemisia extract.
Just keep in mind most of this evidence sits at the cell-culture and animal-model level, and human data is stronger for Artemisia annua than Artemisia princeps.
This ingredient shows real promise and there's little downside to including it as a supporting player in your routine.
Controlled studies tested the extract roughly between 0.1-1% on cells and finished cosmetics generally use botanical extracts like this in low single digits.
Though this ingredient is generally well-tolerated, people with sensitivities toward mugwort or ragweed should patch test.
Learn more about Artemisia Princeps 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 GlycolButylphenyl Methylpropional is a synthetic fragrance. You might know it as "lilial". The scent of this ingredient is floral-like and similar to the scent of lily flowers.
In March of 2022, the EU banned this ingredient in both rinse-off and leave-on products. This is because research found Butylphenyl Methylpropional to disrupt fertility in rats.
This ingredient is also a known EU allergen, meaning it is likely to cause an allergic reaction. Irritated skin can be damaging.
We always recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns or questions about this ingredient.
Learn more about Butylphenyl MethylpropionalCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
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
