What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Polybutene
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientPEG-8 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
PEG-12 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Methyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Jasminum Officinale Flower Wax
EmollientCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate
Emollient
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Isopropyl Palmitate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Polybutene, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Isohexadecane, PEG-8 Diisostearate, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, PEG-12 Diisostearate, Tocopherol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Jasminum Officinale Flower Wax, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Bisabolol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Laurate, Water, Pentylene Glycol, Dipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate, Linalyl Acetate, Tocopheryl Acetate
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
CI 47000
Cosmetic ColorantCI 26100
Cosmetic ColorantParaffinum Liquidum, Isohexadecane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, CI 47000, CI 26100
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololHelianthus 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 OilIsohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.
Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.
Learn more about IsohexadecaneThis ingredient is also known as olive oil. It has been used in skincare for centuries and science largely backs up its reputation as a nourishing emollient.
The main components of olive oil are oleic acid (55-83%), linoleic acid (3.5-20%), and palmitic acid (7-20%). Oleic acid promotes skin regeneration and helps regulate inflammatory responses.
Squalene is also naturally present in olive oil and exhibits moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
The polyphenols in olive oil also show anti-aging promise; one clinical study found a measurable improvement in skin appearance after 30 days of topical serum use.
Just be aware that applying olive oil directly to skin can weaken the barrier and cause redness. One study with volunteers found even people without sensitive skin experienced a significant reduction in stratum corneum integrity and induced mild erythema.
It's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted formula (instead of putting it on skin directly from the bottle).
Because it has a 2-3 on the comedogenic scale, it is a moderate risk for acne-prone skin. However, the overall formulation of a product matters more than a few ingredients with comedogenic ratings.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because of the oleic and palmitic acid content. These fall within the C11-24 fatty acid range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize to grow.
Overall, olive oil is a well-studied and nourishing skincare ingredient.
Learn more about Olea Europaea Fruit OilPeg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate comes from Isostearic Acid and glycerin.
It is an emollient, emulsifier, and gentle cleanser. As an emollient, it helps trap moisture to keep skin soft and hydrated. Emulsifiers help prevent ingredients from separating.
This ingredient is common in oil-based products. This is because it helps oil-ingredients be easily washed away without leaving a residue.
Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-20 Glyceryl TriisostearateJojoba 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 OilTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
