What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Manihot Esculenta Tuber Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Santalum Album Extract
CleansingMilk
Skin Conditioning
Crocus Sativus Flower Extract
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingGold
Cosmetic ColorantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Jasminum Sambac Flower Oil
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Olivate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Ceramide NP, Saccharide Isomerate, Polyglutamic Acid, Bakuchiol, Hydrolyzed Manihot Esculenta Tuber Extract, Betaine, Squalane, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Santalum Album Extract, Milk, Crocus Sativus Flower Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Gold, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Jasminum Sambac Flower Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbo Nucifera Callus
Antimicrobial
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Cera
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root
Skin ConditioningHemidesmus Indicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMesua Ferrea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningElettaria Cardamomum Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningAmomum Subulatum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Xanthocarpum Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Indicum Root Powder
Skin ConditioningAmla Oil
Terminalia Bellerica Fruit
AstringentTerminalia Chebula Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCyperus Rotundus Root Powder
Skin ConditioningPrunus Cerasus Fruit Water
EmollientBoerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin Protecting
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Bakuchiol, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Coco-Caprylate, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Callus, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Cera, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root, Hemidesmus Indicus Root Extract, Mesua Ferrea Flower Extract, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Powder, Amomum Subulatum Seed Extract, Solanum Xanthocarpum Extract, Solanum Indicum Root Powder, Amla Oil, Terminalia Bellerica Fruit, Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract, Cyperus Rotundus Root Powder, Prunus Cerasus Fruit Water, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Niacinamide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum
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 BakuchiolCetearyl Olivate is a plant-derived emulsifier and texture enhancer. It helps keep the oil and water phases from separating so your formulas stay stable.
You'll likely see it combined with Sorbitan Olivate (together sold as the trade name Olivem 1000). This combination generates a liquid crystal structure that closely resemble the lipid organization of the stratum corneum.
These "skin-like" liquid crystals improve skin barrier integrity and promote the delivery of actives into the skin.
This ingredient is well-tolerated and has no significant sensitization data.
Because it is derived from the fatty acids in olive oil, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl OlivateGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinSesamum 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 OilWater. 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 WaterWithania Somnifera Root Extract is also known as Ashwaganda extract. Ashwaganda is an evergreen shrub grown in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa.
Ashwaganda contains many antioxidant compounds. Antioxidants may help with anti-aging as they neutralize free-radical molecules. These molecules may damage skin cells and DNA. By neutralizing them, antioxidants may help slow the signs of aging.
Other compounds found in ashwaganda include Vitamin C, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid. These three acids are antioxidants but also provide other skin benefits as well.
Ongoing studies show ashwaganda to prevent damage from UV-B radiation.
Ashwaganda root powder has traditionally been used in Indian medicine.
Learn more about Withania Somnifera Root ExtractXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
