What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Paraffin
Perfuming
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningPhenylpropanol
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Paraffin, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Parfum, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Water, Phenylpropanol, Propanediol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, BHT, Amyl Cinnamal, Coumarin, Citronellol
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Olivate
Sucrose Polystearate
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Spirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAmber Powder
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sucrose Polystearate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol, Water, Decyl Glucoside, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Amber Powder, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Limonene
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 shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterHelianthus 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 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 OilPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
