What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Isohexadecane
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Brassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
Perfuming
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Isohexadecane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Coco-Caprylate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventPolyglyceryl-6 Oleate
Emulsifying
Brassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Isoamyl Laurate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, C13-15 Alkane, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract is from a plant called the Marsh Mallow plant. This plant is indigenous to Europe, West Asia, and North Africa.
Marsh Mallow root is an emollient and antioxidant. It helps sooth and soften the skin. When applied to the skin, it blocks enzymes that break down hyaluronic acid.
The marshmallow we eat today is based on an ancient Egyptian dessert made from this plant (Marshmallows do not contain this plant anymore).
Learn more about Althaea Officinalis Root ExtractThis ingredient is also known as rapeseed oil. Rapeseed oil is a lightweight plant oil with a strong fatty acid profile that makes it a great skin conditioner.
It's rich in oleic acid, linoleic acid (LA), and alpha-linoleic acid (ALA). Fatty acids like LA and ALA play an important role in the maintenance of skin barrier function.
They specifically help with reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and supporting the skin's lipid matrix.
Studies show people deficient in essential fatty acids are prone to dermatitis and increased TEWL.
Besides fatty acids, it also contains tocopherols and phytosterols that provide antioxidant support.
Rapeseed oil is composed mostly of C16-18 fatty acids that the Malassezia species can metabolize, making it a potential trigger for fungal acne.
Learn more about Brassica Campestris Seed OilCaprylic/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 TriglycerideGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractOryza 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 ExtractPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate is a plant-derived, oil-soluble emulsifier. It keeps water-in-oil emulsions stable to prevent the ingredients from separating.
On the safety front, it's considered non-irritating and well-tolerated (it can even be found in formulations for baby skin).
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because research has shown that the Malassezia species can grow in the presence of fatty acid esters with chain lengths above C12 (and this one is C18).
While it does have a comedogenic rating of 4, the comedogenic rating scale was developed from rabbit ear models which has limited clinical relevance to human skin. Studies also show that comedogenic ingredients cannot predict how the overall formula will behave on human skin.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 DiisostearateTocopherol 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
