This hydrating serum is formulated around Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil and Butyrospermum Parkii Butter to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This barrier-repair lip moisturizer is formulated around Ricinus Communis Seed Oil and Butyrospermum Parkii Butter to strengthen the lip barrier and hydrate lips.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Monascus Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Borago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Gigas Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningTuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRose Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Extract
Masking
Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningIris Versicolor Extract
EmollientFreesia Refracta Extract
Skin ConditioningCollagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glutathione
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Mannose
HumectantParfum
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Synthetic Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Octyldodecanol, Polyethylene, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Monascus Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Borago Officinalis Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Angelica Gigas Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Rose Extract, Jasminum Officinale Extract, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus Flower Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Iris Versicolor Extract, Freesia Refracta Extract, Collagen Extract, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Microcrystalline Wax, Bisabolol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Tocopherol, Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Glutathione, Ascorbic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glucose, Mannose, Parfum, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citral, Linalool, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This 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.
This ingredient shows up on a lot of "pore-clogging" lists but there's no real evidence behind that. It doesn't even have a comedogenic rating from an actual study; the numbers you'll find online come from blogs citing other blogs.
Ratings for other ingredients mostly come from a 1980s rabbit ear test. This test doesn't translate well to human skin or to real products because the ingredient sits at a much lower percentage.
Some people still find it breaks them out. So if that's you, definitely trust your skin. Just know this one's based on experience and not evidence.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii 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.
Jojoba 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.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
