What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Beta-Caryophyllene
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Coumarin
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Geranyl Acetate
Perfuming
Hexadecanolactone
Masking
Juniperus Virginiana Oil
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Pinene
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Vanillin
Masking
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Parfum, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Tocopherol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Beta-Caryophyllene, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Coumarin, Eugenol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Geranyl Acetate, Hexadecanolactone, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Pinene, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Vanillin
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Alaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Jasminum Officinale Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Ocimum Basilicum Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carthamus 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 OilThis 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 OilAcai oil is extracted from the pulp of the acai palm fruit. It is rich in phenolic compounds and fatty acids like oleic and palmitic acid.
Due to the presence of fatty acids, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
This plant is native to the Amazon rainforest.
Learn more about Euterpe Oleracea Fruit OilGlyceryl 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 StearateOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil is from the seed of the Babassu palm plant. This plant is native to Brazil.
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil contains many fatty acids with the most being lauric acid.
Like other plant oils, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil is hydrating and can help soften skin.
It is also an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight off damage from free-radical molecules.
One study found this oil might contain anti-inflammatory properties, but more research is needed.
Learn more about Orbignya Oleifera Seed OilOryza Sativa Bran Extract comes from the outer layer of a rice kernel. It is a byproduct of milling rice, or the operation to produce a whole grain rice product.
This ingredient has moisturizing properties due to its components of polysaccharides and omega-3 fatty acids. It also contains calcium, selenium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc.
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract contains numerous antioxidants such as ferulic acid. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material.
Learn more about Oryza Sativa Bran ExtractThis oil comes from the outer layer (bran) of rice grains. It is packed with skin-friendly fatty acids to soften and condition the skin while supporting your moisture barrier.
What makes it stand out from other plant oils is its naturally high concentration of gamma-oryzanol, a potent antioxidant. This antioxidant has shown some UV-absorptive properties in research.
Other antioxidants found in this oil include tocopherols, tocotrienols, and ferulic acid.
According to manufacturers, this oil has a lightweight texture that absorbs nicely.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics and it has not shown to be a skin sensitizer in testing (unless you have a known rice allergy).
Due to the fatty acids (primarily Oleic Acid ~40%, Linoleic Acid ~30%, and some Palmitic Acid), this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Oryza Sativa Bran OilPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil is a lightweight plant oil from the seeds of passion fruit.
This oil supports skin hydration because it is packed with linoleic acid (56-73%), oleic acid (14-20%), palmitic acid, and stearic acids. It also contains vitamin E and other antioxidants, like carotenoids.
In vitro research has shown that passion fruit seed extracts can inhibit the enzymes that break down collagen and elastin in the skin.
While this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, some cases of contact dermatitis have been reported with the Passiflora plant's vines and leaves itself. As with any ingredient, a patch test is a great idea if you are unsure.
This may not be suitable for fungal acne-prone skin due to the fatty acid content.
Learn more about Passiflora Edulis Seed OilTocopherol 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
