What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Crataegus Monogyna Fruit
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningStellaria Media Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Seed Extract
EmollientCalendula Officinalis Flower Oil
Masking
Arnica Montana Flower Oil
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Heptyl Glucoside
SurfactantGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Zea Mays Germ Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hedera Helix Extract
AntimicrobialHamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Hypericum Perforatum Extract
AntimicrobialAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantAdansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Tapioca Starch
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Crataegus Monogyna Fruit, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Juice, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Stellaria Media Extract, Rosa Canina Seed Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Arnica Montana Flower Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Heptyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glycerin, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Panthenol, Hedera Helix Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Vitis Vinifera Leaf Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Cocos Nucifera Water, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Tapioca Starch, Thioctic Acid, Ubiquinone
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Juniperus Virginiana Oil
Masking
Boswellia Serrata Gum
Masking
Abies Balsamea Needle Oil
Masking
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Ocimum Basilicum Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Acacia Decurrens Flower Extract
Masking
Glyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
3-Hexenol
Masking
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCitral
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 40800
Cosmetic ColorantCocos Nucifera Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Beeswax, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Triethyl Citrate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Boswellia Serrata Gum, Abies Balsamea Needle Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acacia Decurrens Flower Extract, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Glyceryl Laurate, Tocopherol, Linalyl Acetate, 3-Hexenol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, CI 40800
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that 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. Just 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.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil comes from the seeds of the safflower plant. It is a skin conditioning agent that helps soften skin and keep it hydrated.
This seed oil has an unusual fatty acid profile: it is one of the highest linoleic acid plant oils out there (~55-77%). It also has low amounts of oleic acid, and this high-linoleic/low-oleic ratio gets people excited.
Linoleic acid helps maintain skin barrier integrity and is a building block for the ceramides in your stratum corneum. Notably, people with acne tend to have lower linoleic acid in their skin lipids as well (and this gets worse as acne gets more severe).
Overall, it's a lightweight, fast-absorbing oil that has a long safety track record. Lab testing has found it to be non-irritating for skin or eyes.
The Malassezia yeast can metabolize the fatty acids in this oil to grow; therefore this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Carthamus Tinctorius Seed OilCitrus Limon Fruit Extract comes from lemons. While lemon extract is exfoliating and antimicrobial, it can also cause skin sensitivity.
Lemons contains antioxidants, which may help with anti-aging. They are also rich in citric acid, an AHA.
And of course, lemons are rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps with skin-brightening and increasing collagen production.
The acidity of lemons may work as an astringent for acne.
However, lemons can also cause skin sensitivity due to its limonene content. It can also increase photosensitivity, or sensitivity to the sun.
This ingredient is also used to add a lemon scent to products.
Learn more about Citrus Limon Fruit ExtractHelianthus 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 OilSesamum Indicum Seed Oil is the cold-pressed oil from sesame seeds.
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent made up of roughly 82-85% unsaturated fatty acids, mostly linoleic (~41%) and oleic acid (~39%).
This pairing gives it barrier-supporting and moisturizing properties. Linoleic acid, an essential omega-6 fatty acid, can be incorporated into complex skin lipids. Topical application has shown barrier repair, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing effects in cell and animal studies.
Beyond fatty acids, sesame oil brings something more distinctive to the table:
It contains natural antioxidants sesamol, sesamolin, and gamma-tocopherol. These also give the oil notably high oxidative stability.
One of the oil's key lignans, sesamin, has also demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in preclinical models.
A 2023 clinical study found that a single application of sesame seed oil to the forearms of 35 healthy women improved stratum corneum hydration (though it didn't outperform raspberry seed oil).
The comedogenic rating of 1-3 depends on the type of sesame oil; unrefined carries a rating of 3 while refined sesame oil drops to a 1.
This ingredient may not be safe for fungal acne as it contains fatty acids that can feed Malassezia.
Learn more about Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
