What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSymphytum Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningNigella Sativa Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Symphytum Officinale Root Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Helichrysum Italicum Flower Oil, Matricaria Recutita Flower Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Silybum Marianum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningNigella Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientCucumis Sativus Seed Oil
EmollientPunica Granatum Seed Oil
EmollientDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientVaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialEthyl Linoleate
EmollientMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
MaskingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient4-Terpineol
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAmber Powder
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingCurcuma Longa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicSilybum Marianum Seed Oil, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Hexylresorcinol, Ethyl Linoleate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, 4-Terpineol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Amber Powder, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/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 OilThis ingredient is also known as black seed oil or black cumin. It has emollient, skin conditioning, and perfuming properties.
It is rich in linoleic and oleic acids, making it a great skin hydrator or emollient. Other compounds found in black seed oil include thymoquinone, sterols, and various terpenes; these compounds give it antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Studies show thymoquinone helps reduce oxidative stress and dampens the inflammatory pathways. Combining this with the oils makes this ingredient great for barrier repair and moisturization.
Other studies have found this ingredient to have antimicrobial activity against several acne-causing bacteria.
Learn more about Nigella Sativa Seed OilThis 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.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil