What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocotrienols
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helichrysum Arenarium Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCetraria Islandica Extract
CleansingQuercus Serrata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Eucalyptus Globulus Oil
Limonene
Perfuming
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax, Tocopherol, Tocotrienols, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Helichrysum Arenarium Flower Extract, Cetraria Islandica Extract, Quercus Serrata Seed Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil, Limonene
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Squalane, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax, Glyceryl Laurate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Lauric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax is created from the common sunflower.
Sunflower seed wax is made up of long chain non-glyceride esters, a small amount of fatty alcohols, and fatty acids.
This ingredient is often used to enhance the texture of products. The fatty acid properties also help hydrate the skin.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed WaxThis ingredient is also known as berry wax; it is a plant-derived wax from the peel or rind of the lacquer tree with emollient and stabilizing properties.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient can help thicken/stabilize formulas, improves slip, and leave a soft emollient on skin.
It is important to note this ingredient comes from the lacquer tree which is in the same plant family as poison ivy or poison oak. Though this ingredient comes from the wax instead of sap (the sap contains the substance that causes itchy rashes), there is a very small chance that sensitive people could react.
Learn more about Rhus Verniciflua Peel WaxThis ingredient is also known as castor oil. It is a skin conditioning ingredient.
The star component of castor oil is ricinoleic acid, an unusual fatty acid that makes up ~80-92% of its composition.
In skincare, it is an emollient that dries down to a solid film with water-binding properties. This helps keep skin hydrated and helps reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
A 2026 dermatology review pulls together its broader uses:
Human clinical testing found this ingredient to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Because castor oil contains fatty acids in the C11-24 range, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
At this time, the literature does not support castor oil in regrowing hair. A 2022 systematic review found no strong evidence that it supports hair growth and only weak evidence that it improves hair shine.
Castor oil itself carries "perfuming" and "masking" function tags according to the official CosIng database. This is because of its mild odor and odor-dampening properties.
Learn more about Ricinus Communis Seed OilTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol
