What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSolanum Lycopersicum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Pinaster Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOak Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAbies Alba Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyapatite
Abrasive
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate
Skin Conditioning
Isohexadecane
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCeteth-10
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Zinc Phosphate
Citric Acid
Buffering
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Potassium Hydroxide, Solanum Lycopersicum Seed Extract, Pinus Pinaster Leaf Extract, Oak Root Extract, Abies Alba Seed Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Hydroxyapatite, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Silica, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Isohexadecane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Ceteth-10, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Tocopherol, Zinc Phosphate, Citric Acid, BHT, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Cola Nitida Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Barley Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Phosphoric Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Octocrylene, Cola Nitida Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Sh-Barley Seed Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Phosphoric Acid, Citric Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
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 ExtractBHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTButylene 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidHydrogenated Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer. Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient and texture enhancer.
In one study, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene showed better skin hydration levels than Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. As an emollient, it helps keep your skin soft and hydrated by trapping moisture in.
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is often used as a mineral oil replacement.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolyisobutenePhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
