What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Aroma
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Jojoba Esters, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Beeswax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Octyldodecanol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Tocopherol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Aroma, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Lanolin Oil
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
EmollientBeeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlucomannan
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Limonene
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantRicinus Communis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Mica, Silica, Octyldodecanol, Lanolin Oil, Jojoba Esters, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Beeswax, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylyl Glycol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucomannan, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Polyglycerin-3, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trihydroxystearin, Limonene, CI 77891, CI 15850, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 73360
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Beeswax is natural wax produced by honey bees to build their honeycomb.
Because it forms a protective layer on your skin, it can help lock in moisture and reduce water loss. It is also widely used as a thickener and emulsifier in lip balms and lotions. Research suggests beeswax containing moisturizers can support skin barrier integrity.
In comedogenic testing, Beeswax scored a 0-2, which is on the low end. Whether or not a product clogs your pores really comes down to the formula as a whole (not any single ingredient on its own).
Cera Alba is the white, bleached form of this ingredient.
Just so you know, beeswax is not vegan since it is animal-derived. It cannot be removed with water, but can be taken off with an oil cleanser.
People with a known Propolis allergy also report to have reactions from beeswax.
Learn more about BeeswaxThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarthamus tinctorius seed oil comes from safflower, one of humanity's oldest crops.
Safflower seed oil contains a high percentage of linoleic acid and oleic acid. It also contains Vitamin E. These three components are effective moisturizers.
Vitamin E helps nourish your skin's lipid barrier. It is also a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, or unstable molecules that may damage your skin cells.
Due to its high fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis safe.
Thoughout history, safflower has been used for dying fabrics and in food as a saffron substitute.
Learn more about Carthamus Tinctorius Seed OilCopernicia Cerifera Wax comes from a palm tree native to Brazil; another name for this ingredient is Carnauba Wax.
This ingredient is used to thicken texture and also leaves behind a film when applied.
Fun fact: This wax has the highest melting point of all natural waxes and low solubility.
Learn more about Copernicia Cerifera WaxJojoba Esters is a wax created from Jojoba oil. It is an emollient and film-forming ingredient. In bead form, it is an exfoliator.
This ingredient has high oxidative stability, meaning it doesn't break down when exposed to oxygen.
Its similarity to our skin's natural oils makes it a great emollient. Emollients help soften and soothe our skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier helps trap moisture in, keeping skin hydrated.
It is created using either the hydrogenation or transesterification processes on jojoba oil.
Learn more about Jojoba EstersThough this ingredient might sound like a juicy fruit extract, it's actually the fat pressed from the mango seed kernel (or the pit). In skincare, it behaves more like shea butter and cocoa butter than like a plant active.
The fatty acid makeup of mango seed butter makes it special; it's typically rich in stearic acid and oleic acid, with small amounts of palmitic and linoleic acid. This combo helps it melt on skin, feel creamy, and leave behind a protective "seal" that slows down water loss.
It also contains a small amount of "extras" like tocopherols (vitamin E) and phytosterols, which are often used to support skin soothing.
Due to its fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Mangifera Indica Seed ButterOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
This ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima 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 TocopherolTocopheryl 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
