What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil Phytosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Laureth-2
CleansingC9-12 Alkane
SolventGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil Phytosterol Esters, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Squalane, Cocos Nucifera Seed Butter, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Niacinamide, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Laureth-2, C9-12 Alkane, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-10, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Wheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningBrassica Rapa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Humulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Bambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Wheat Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Brassica Rapa Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You may know this ingredient as argan oil. It has emollient and skin conditioning properties that help soften skin and reinforce the lipid barrier.
The fatty acid profile of argan oil is roughly 45-55% oleic acid, 28-36% linoleic acid, 10-15% palmitic acid, and 5-7% stearic acid. It also contains vitamin E, sterols, squalene, and polyphenols like ferulic acid.
Two clinical studies in postmenopausal women found that applying argan oil for 60 days significantly improved skin elasticity and moisturization (reduced transepidermal water loss and increased epidermal water content).
Since it is high in oleic and linoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Both of these fall in the C11-C24 range that Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Argania Spinosa Kernel OilCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolJojoba 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 OilWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
