What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Rapeseed Alcohol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Eicosanedioate/Tetradecanedioate
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantLevulinic Acid
PerfumingSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Olivate
EmollientWater, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-10 Eicosanedioate/Tetradecanedioate, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glyceryl Olivate
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientShea Butter Ethyl Esters
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPolyamide-5
Skin ConditioningC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate
Sodium Phytate
Cetearyl Olivate
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Flower
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentSea Whip Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Polyamide-5, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Hexylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate, Sodium Phytate, Cetearyl Olivate, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sorbitan Olivate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Sea Whip Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateHelianthus 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 OilPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolJojoba 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 OilTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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 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