What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientAngelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprae Lac
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAcetyl Zingerone
AntioxidantDiisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientMagnesium Sulfate
Phenylpropanol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Niacinamide, Caprae Lac, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Acetyl Zingerone, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenylpropanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylyl Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCucumis Sativus Seed Oil
EmollientPunica Granatum Seed Oil
EmollientVaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
MaskingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
MaskingRibes Nigrum Seed Oil
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantCetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningHexyldecanol
EmollientHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientCardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Octyldodecanol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Hexyldecanol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Stearic Acid, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Helianthus 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 OilRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract comes from rosemary. Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean.
While Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil can be volatile due to its fragrant properties, the fragrance components are usually removed in the leaf extract.
Rosemary Leaf Extract contains many antioxidants such as rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid. Rosemarinic acid, a compound found in rosemary leaf, has been found to help soothe skin conditions such as eczema and acne.
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.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.
THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).
Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.
Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun.
Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.
A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).
While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.
THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateTocopherol 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