What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Bakuchiol, Tocopherol, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Myristica Fragrans Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Alanyl Glutamine
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Salvia Officinalis Extract
Antimicrobial
Water, Glycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panthenol, Silica, Arachidyl Alcohol, Alanyl Glutamine, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Arachidyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Bakuchiol, Carbomer, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Arginine, Ceramide NP, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja Oil, Butylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Glucose, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Salvia Officinalis Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant. It has antimicrobial, emollient, skin conditioning, and antioxidant properties.
You'll likely see it called a "retinol replacement" but the two are technically not related. This is because bakuchiol is able to flip many of the same switches in your skin cells to tell them to:
1) produce more collagen (type I, III, and IV)
2) activate the same genes retinoids do
Unlike retinoids, this ingredient will not increase photosensitivity and is safe to use during pregnancy (but please still check in with your doctor!).
The flagship clinical trial from Dhaliwal et al. 2019 found 0.5% bakuchiol (twice daily) and 0.5% retinol (once daily) reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation equally, but bakuchiol had significantly less irritation.
Systematic reviews also back this up:
Bakuchiol is comparable to retinol for photoaging but with better tolerability. It also has mild antibacterial properties against Cutibacterium acnes and antifungal activity in vitro against Candida and dermatophytes.
The reason bakuchiol works well is due to its structure; it is a meroterpene phenol, or a hybrid molecule. The phenol half acts as an antioxidant while the terpene half is fat-loving. This helps the molecule slip through the skin barrier.
This ingredient is usually used between 0.5-2%. Only one case of contact dermatitis has ever been reported for this ingredient.
Learn more about BakuchiolCaprylic/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 TriglycerideWe don't have a description for Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate yet.
Tocopherol 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 Tocopherol
