What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingTriisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientOleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
EmollientSqualane
EmollientGlyceryl Rosinate
PerfumingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientRhus Verniciflua Peel Cera
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPhytosteryl Canola Glycerides
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingAroma
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantPunica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentMomordica Grosvenorii Fruit Extract
AntioxidantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingRicinus Communis Seed Oil, Triisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Squalane, Glyceryl Rosinate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Cera, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Aroma, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phospholipids, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Momordica Grosvenorii Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Limonene, Linalool
Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Sterols
Skin ConditioningCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingDimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPunica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantVanillin
MaskingCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPortulaca Pilosa Extract
Skin ConditioningSucrose Cocoate
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
AbrasiveCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Euterpe Oleracea Sterols, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Tocopherol, Vanillin, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Mica, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sorbitan Isostearate, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Sucrose Cocoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Tin Oxide, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 15850, Iron Oxides, CI 45410
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 OilPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate is an emulsifer and emollient. It comes from Isostearic Acid and Polyglycerin-3.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize products by preventing oils and water from separating.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 DiisostearatePomegranate flower extract has skin conditioning properties.
According to analysis of the flower, it is rich in the triterpenes ursolic acid and oleanolic acid.
Triterpenes are chemical compounds found in various plants such as pomegranates, apples, basil, and rosemary. They have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
The flowers also contain gallic acid and ellagic acid, two types of polyphenols. They possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
A study from 2017 found pomegranate flower to help heal scars and wounds in rats. Another study from 2020 found this ingredient to help decrease lip wrinkles and increase lip volume.
This ingredient also showed positive effects on dandruff removal in a study from 2015.
Learn more about Punica Granatum Flower ExtractRicinus Communis Seed Oil is the INCI name for castor oil.
Castor Oil helps moisturize the skin. It is rich in a fatty acid called ricinoleic acid. This fatty acid helps prevent moisture loss on the skin. This helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. Ricinoleic acid also has anti-inflammatory and pain reducing properties.
Besides hydrating the skin, castor oil is also used to hydrate hair. By keeping the hair shaft moisturized, breakage is decreased. More studies are needed to show castor oil's effective on stimulating hair growth.
Castor oil is created by cold-pressing castor seeds and then purifying the oil with heat. It was used in Ancient Egypt as fuel in lamps and to help treat eye irritation.
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 Ricinus Communis Seed OilJojoba 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 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