What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientPolyisobutene
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-20 Olefin)
AbrasivePolyethylene
AbrasiveHydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer
Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate
PerfumingParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientPhytosteryl Oleate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingNeotame
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCinnamyl Alcohol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Palmitate, Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-20 Olefin), Polyethylene, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Phytosteryl Oleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Neotame, Water, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Linalool, CI 42090, CI 45410, CI 19140
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientPolyisobutene
Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-20 Olefin)
AbrasivePolyethylene
AbrasiveMethyl Hydrogenated Rosinate
PerfumingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientPhytosteryl Oleate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantOctyldodecanol
EmollientAroma
Alcohol
AntimicrobialNeotame
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Palmitate, Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-20 Olefin), Polyethylene, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Paraffinum Liquidum, Phytosteryl Oleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Octyldodecanol, Aroma, Alcohol, Neotame, Benzyl Benzoate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, CI 16035, CI 77891, CI 19140
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 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 ExtractCI 19140 is also known as Tartrazine. Tartrazine is a synthetic dye used in cosmetics, foods, and medicine to add a yellow color.
Tartrazine is created from petroleum and is water-soluble.
Some people may experience allergies from this dye, especially asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.
Learn more about CI 19140This ingredient is also known as coconut oil. It is a plant-derived ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
The fatty acid profile of coconut oil is mostly lauric acid (~54%), followed by capric, caprylic, palmitic, and myristic acids. This profile allows it to penetrate easily into skin, moisturize, and improve dry skin.
A double-blind study confirmed that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective as mineral oil for treating very dry skin. Another study found it outperformed mineral oil for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children.
Another study from 2018 found that virgin coconut oil can soothe inflammation and boost key skin barrier proteins. Just know this evidence is still only from lab settings and not human trials.
It has also been shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly overgrows in people with eczema.
Clinical testing shows very minimal skin irritation and no evidence of sensitization or phototoxicity.
Coconut oil gets flagged as a "fragrance" because it has a natural mild scent (not because it's a synthetic perfume). The European Cosmetic ingredient database also lists "perfuming" as a function of this ingredient.
Just so you know, the term "fragrance" is completely unregulated. Some brands still use botanical extracts or essential oils in their "fragrance-free" formulas, but regulatory databases technically classify these under "fragrance".
Coconut oil has a tiny and useless bit of natural SPF. Early lab studies clocked it around SPF 7-8 but a more recent study found the real number closer to SPF 1.2. It also offers no meaningful UVA protection (SPF only overs UVB rays).
The comedogenic rating of 4/5 means it has a high potential to clog pores; but it's worth noting that comedogenicity is highly individual and ratings cannot predict how an overall formula will behave on skin.
Since lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between 11-24, and lauric acid falls within these lengths (C12).
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera OilEthylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is a fatty acid ester.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateHydrogenated Poly(C6-20 Olefin) is an exfoliant.
We don't have a description for Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer yet.
Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate is a fragrance.
We don't have a description for Neotame yet.
Paraffinum Liquidum is a highly-refined cosmetic-grade mineral oil. It is also known as liquid paraffin.
Despite its controversial reputation, the science is pretty clear: it's one of the most well-studied and effective moisturizing ingredients out there.
As an occlusive, it forms a protective layer on the skin that locks in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL). This makes it especially great for compromised skin barriers.
The "it clogs your pores" myth has been around for decades; a study found that industrial-grade mineral oil may be comedogenic but cosmetic-grade mineral oil is not (these two are very, very different).
A 2017 review concluded that cosmetic use of mineral oils and waxes does not present a risk to consumers due to absorption.
Mineral oil got a bad rap from the old rabbit ear studies. When tested on actual human skin, cosmetic-grade mineral oil showed no comedogenic activity. The rating of 0 is a correction of outdated science.
Mineral oil is an inert substance with no fatty acids so there's nothing to feed Malassezia. This ingredient is fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Paraffinum LiquidumWe don't have a description for Phytosteryl Oleate yet.
Polyethylene is a synthetic ingredient that helps the skin retain moisture. It is a polymer.
It is also typically used within product formulations to help bind solid ingredients together and thicken oil-based ingredients. When added to balms and emulsions, it helps increase the melting point temperature.
Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer made from isobutene.
It is a film-forming agent and helps bind ingredients together.
Polyisobutene is not absorbed by the skin.
Learn more about PolyisobuteneTocopheryl 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 Acetate