What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCoco-Caprylate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientPrinsepia Utilis Seed Oil
EmollientCaryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil
EmollientPlukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAroma
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientLinalool
PerfumingPorphyra Umbilicalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCitronellol
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingXanthophylls
Skin ConditioningEugenol
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate, Squalane, Prinsepia Utilis Seed Oil, Caryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aroma, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Linalool, Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract, Citronellol, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Xanthophylls, Eugenol, Tocopherol
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Avium Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGnaphalium Leontopodium Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingAcmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingRubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil
Skin ProtectingAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentAcacia Dealbata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentOxycoccus Palustris Seed Oil
AntioxidantLycium Barbarum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Seed Extract
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingJasminum Grandiflorum Flower Oil
Rose Flower Oil
MaskingLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingJasminum Sambac Flower Oil
MaskingAcacia Decurrens Flower Extract
MaskingLecithin
EmollientEssential Oils
Eugenol
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingIsoeugenol
PerfumingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Prunus Avium Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Gnaphalium Leontopodium Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Acacia Dealbata Flower Extract, Bisabolol, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Oxycoccus Palustris Seed Oil, Lycium Barbarum Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Jasminum Grandiflorum Flower Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Jasminum Sambac Flower Oil, Acacia Decurrens Flower Extract, Lecithin, Essential Oils, Eugenol, Hydroxycitronellal, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Limonene, Isoeugenol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Salicylate is a solvent and fragrance additive. It is an ester of benzyl alcohol and salicylic acid. This ingredient can be naturally found in some plants and plant extracts.
In fragrances, Benzyl Salicylate may be a solvent or a fragrance component. In synthetic musk scents, it is used as a solvent. For floral fragrances such as lilac and jasmine, it is used as a fragrance component. The natural scent of Benzyl Salicylate is described as "lightly-sweet, slightly balsamic".
While Benzyl Salicylate has been associated with contact dermatitis and allergies, emerging studies show it may not be caused by this ingredient alone.
However, this ingredient is often used with fragrances and other components that may cause allergies. It is still listed as a known allergen in the EU. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Another study from 2021 shows Benzyl Salicylate may have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Benzyl SalicylateBisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil comes from the seeds of the safflower plant. It is a skin conditioning agent that helps soften skin and keep it hydrated.
This seed oil has an unusual fatty acid profile: it is one of the highest linoleic acid plant oils out there (~55-77%). It also has low amounts of oleic acid, and this high-linoleic/low-oleic ratio gets people excited.
Linoleic acid helps maintain skin barrier integrity and is a building block for the ceramides in your stratum corneum. Notably, people with acne tend to have lower linoleic acid in their skin lipids as well (and this gets worse as acne gets more severe).
Overall, it's a lightweight, fast-absorbing oil that has a long safety track record. Lab testing has found it to be non-irritating for skin or eyes.
The Malassezia yeast can metabolize the fatty acids in this oil to grow; therefore this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Carthamus Tinctorius Seed OilCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolEugenol is naturally found in cloves, basil, and bay leaves. It is an aromatic oil used to add fragrance to a product. The scent of eugenol is described as "clove-like". Eugenol is a known EU allergen, meaning it causes contact allergies.
Studies show eugenol possesses antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
Besides cosmetics, eugenol is also added as a flavor in teas and cakes.
Learn more about EugenolHelianthus 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 OilLimonene 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 LinaloolThis is a botanical extract from the rosemary plant (the same one you cook with). In skincare, it mostly works as a skin conditioning agent.
Its activity comes from a handful of polyphenols, carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid. Almost 90% of the antioxidant activity of this ingredient can be attributed to canosol and carnosic acid.
These compounds protect your skin two ways:
1) They fight off free radicals, or the unstable molecules from things like sun and pollution that age and damage skin.
2) They help calm inflammation by switching off the chemical signals that tell skin to get red and irritated.
Lab studies also suggest that rosmarinic acid may help protect collagen and slow sugar-related damage to it.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be non-sensitizing.
Rosemary can occasionally cause allergic contact dermatitis (due to carnosol), so be sure to patch test if you have reactive or fragrance-sensitive skin.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis 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