What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Isohexadecane
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate
EmollientAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
PerfumingCymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingIsohexadecane, 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
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCoconut Alkanes
EmollientOleyl Lactate
EmollientOctyldodecyl PCA
EmollientTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventIsostearyl Lactate
EmollientBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningPterocarpus Marsupium Bark Extract
Bisabolol
AntioxidantPhloretin
AntioxidantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Coconut Alkanes, Oleyl Lactate, Octyldodecyl PCA, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glyceryl Oleate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Isostearyl Lactate, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Pterocarpus Marsupium Bark Extract, Bisabolol, Phloretin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Squalane, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Dunaliella Salina Extract
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 ExtractYou may know this ingredient as argan oil. It has emollient and skin conditioning properties that help soften skin and reinforce the lipid barrier.
The fatty acid profile of argan oil is roughly 45-55% oleic acid, 28-36% linoleic acid, 10-15% palmitic acid, and 5-7% stearic acid. It also contains vitamin E, sterols, squalene, and polyphenols like ferulic acid.
Two clinical studies in postmenopausal women found that applying argan oil for 60 days significantly improved skin elasticity and moisturization (reduced transepidermal water loss and increased epidermal water content).
Since it is high in oleic and linoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Both of these fall in the C11-C24 range that Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Argania Spinosa Kernel OilBisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololThis 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 OilGlycyrrhiza 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 Diisostearate