What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Juglans Regia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Allium Sativum Bulb Oil
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Urtica Dioica
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Juglans Regia Seed Oil, Allium Sativum Bulb Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Urtica Dioica, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Polyquaternium-10
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Orbignya Speciosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Histidine
Humectant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Threonine
Valine
MaskingSodium PCA
Humectant
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Stearalkonium Chloride
Preservative
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Polyquaternium-10, Lactobacillus, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Orbignya Speciosa Kernel Oil, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Panthenol, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Alanine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Valine, Sodium PCA, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Stearalkonium Chloride, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Pvp, Maltodextrin/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Lactate, Caramel, Parfum, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool
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 coconut oil. It is a plant-derived ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
The fatty acid profile of coconut oil is mostly lauric acid (~54%), followed by capric, caprylic, palmitic, and myristic acids. This profile allows it to penetrate easily into skin, moisturize, and improve dry skin.
A double-blind study confirmed that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective as mineral oil for treating very dry skin. Another study found it outperformed mineral oil for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children.
Another study from 2018 found that virgin coconut oil can soothe inflammation and boost key skin barrier proteins. Just know this evidence is still only from lab settings and not human trials.
It has also been shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly overgrows in people with eczema.
Clinical testing shows very minimal skin irritation and no evidence of sensitization or phototoxicity.
Coconut oil gets flagged as a "fragrance" because it has a natural mild scent (not because it's a synthetic perfume). The European Cosmetic ingredient database also lists "perfuming" as a function of this ingredient.
Just so you know, the term "fragrance" is completely unregulated. Some brands still use botanical extracts or essential oils in their "fragrance-free" formulas, but regulatory databases technically classify these under "fragrance".
Coconut oil has a tiny and useless bit of natural SPF. Early lab studies clocked it around SPF 7-8 but a more recent study found the real number closer to SPF 1.2. It also offers no meaningful UVA protection (SPF only overs UVB rays).
The comedogenic rating of 4/5 means it has a high potential to clog pores; but it's worth noting that comedogenicity is highly individual and ratings cannot predict how an overall formula will behave on skin.
Since lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between 11-24, and lauric acid falls within these lengths (C12).
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera OilLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolThis ingredient is also known as black seed oil or black cumin. It has emollient, skin conditioning, and perfuming properties.
It is rich in linoleic and oleic acids, making it a great skin hydrator or emollient. Other compounds found in black seed oil include thymoquinone, sterols, and various terpenes; these compounds give it antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Studies show thymoquinone helps reduce oxidative stress and dampens the inflammatory pathways. Combining this with the oils makes this ingredient great for barrier repair and moisturization.
Other studies have found this ingredient to have antimicrobial activity against several acne-causing bacteria.
Learn more about Nigella Sativa Seed OilThis 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 OilRicinus Communis Seed Oil is the INCI name for castor oil.
Castor Oil helps moisturize the skin. It is rich in a fatty acid called ricinoleic acid. This fatty acid helps prevent moisture loss on the skin. This helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. Ricinoleic acid also has anti-inflammatory and pain reducing properties.
Besides hydrating the skin, castor oil is also used to hydrate hair. By keeping the hair shaft moisturized, breakage is decreased. More studies are needed to show castor oil's effective on stimulating hair growth.
Castor oil is created by cold-pressing castor seeds and then purifying the oil with heat. It was used in Ancient Egypt as fuel in lamps and to help treat eye irritation.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
