What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Squalane
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Lupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Squalane, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Garcinia Mangostana Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ximenia Americana Seed Oil
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Panthenyl Triacetate
Acetyl Rheum Rhaponticum Root Extract
BleachingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Squalane, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Garcinia Mangostana Seed Oil, Ximenia Americana Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Panthenyl Triacetate, Acetyl Rheum Rhaponticum Root Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Helianthus 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 OilLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil is from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant. It is a skin conditioning agent and emollient that sits on top of skin to soften and hydrate it.
Over 98% of the oil is made up of long-chain fatty acids, mostly aachidic acid (61%), docosenoic acid (~16%), and docosadienoic acid (~18%).
This combination is not really found in any other plant oil and is the reason this is one of the most stable botanical oils available.
Some studies show it to be more stable than jojoba oil, helps a product resist going rancid, and can help extend the shelf life of a formula.
It also naturally contains vitamin E and phytosterols that give it a mild antioxidant benefit.
This ingredient is typically used from around 1% to fairly high levels since it's gentle; it's well-tolerated and low on the irritation scale.
Learn more about Limnanthes Alba Seed OilCloudberry seed oil is rich in vitamin C, citric acid, malic acid, vitamin C, and beta-carotene.
Squalane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about Squalane
