What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Phytate
Water, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Coco-Glucoside, Tocopherol, Sodium Phytate
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyamide-5
Skin ConditioningC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate
Sodium Phytate
Cetearyl Olivate
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower
Skin Conditioning
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Sea Whip Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Polyamide-5, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Hexylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate, Sodium Phytate, Cetearyl Olivate, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sorbitan Olivate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Sea Whip Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You may know this ingredient as argan oil. It has emollient and skin conditioning properties that help soften skin and reinforce the lipid barrier.
The fatty acid profile of argan oil is roughly 45-55% oleic acid, 28-36% linoleic acid, 10-15% palmitic acid, and 5-7% stearic acid. It also contains vitamin E, sterols, squalene, and polyphenols like ferulic acid.
Two clinical studies in postmenopausal women found that applying argan oil for 60 days significantly improved skin elasticity and moisturization (reduced transepidermal water loss and increased epidermal water content).
Since it is high in oleic and linoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Both of these fall in the C11-C24 range that Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Argania Spinosa Kernel OilGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateHelianthus 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 OilLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract comes from the Goji Berry. Goji berries are native to China and can be found across Eurasia.
Goji berries contain polysaccharides, carotenoids and flavonoids. Antioxidants help your body fight off free-radical molecules. These molecules are unstable and may damage your skin. By making free-radicals more stable, antioxidants can help with anti-aging.
Polysaccharides help hydrate the top layer of skin due to its ability to mimic natural carbohydrates.
Learn more about Lycium Barbarum Fruit ExtractSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Tocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
