What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientShea Butter Ethyl Esters
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientBakuchiol
AntimicrobialRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingAlaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingFarnesol
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Squalane, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Bakuchiol, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Linalool, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, Farnesol, Citric Acid
Caryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil
EmollientEmblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientOenocarpus Bataua Fruit Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Seed Oil
EmollientCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
AntimicrobialCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
MaskingCitrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract
EmollientCitrus Nobilis Oil
MaskingPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingSalvia Sclarea Oil
MaskingLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCaryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Oenocarpus Bataua Fruit Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Squalane, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Bakuchiol, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract, Citrus Nobilis Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant. It has antimicrobial, emollient, skin conditioning, and antioxidant properties.
You'll likely see it called a "retinol replacement" but the two are technically not related. This is because bakuchiol is able to flip many of the same switches in your skin cells to tell them to:
1) produce more collagen (type I, III, and IV)
2) activate the same genes retinoids do
Unlike retinoids, this ingredient will not increase photosensitivity and is safe to use during pregnancy (but please still check in with your doctor!).
The flagship clinical trial from Dhaliwal et al. 2019 found 0.5% bakuchiol (twice daily) and 0.5% retinol (once daily) reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation equally, but bakuchiol had significantly less irritation.
Systematic reviews also back this up:
Bakuchiol is comparable to retinol for photoaging but with better tolerability. It also has mild antibacterial properties against Cutibacterium acnes and antifungal activity in vitro against Candida and dermatophytes.
The reason bakuchiol works well is due to its structure; it is a meroterpene phenol, or a hybrid molecule. The phenol half acts as an antioxidant while the terpene half is fat-loving. This helps the molecule slip through the skin barrier.
This ingredient is usually used between 0.5-2%. Only one case of contact dermatitis has ever been reported for this ingredient.
Learn more about BakuchiolCitronellol 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 CitronellolThis ingredient is also known as bitter orange flower oil, or neroli flower oil. It imparts a floral, sweet, and citrusy scent.
It is rich in linalool, linalyl acetate, limonene, and nerolidol.
Geraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolLimonene 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 LinaloolSqualane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about SqualaneTocopherol 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