What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientOlea Europaea Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Caprylate
EmulsifyingJojoba Esters
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
EmollientQuillaja Saponaria Wood Extract
Skin ConditioningSaponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingMalva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPapaver Rhoeas Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningLamium Album Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningUrtica Dioica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingMichelia Alba Leaf Oil
MaskingFraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPolyglycerin-3
HumectantSqualane
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeP-Anisic Acid
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Behenate, Olea Europaea Leaf Water, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate, Jojoba Esters, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Water, Glycerin, Glycolipids, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Quillaja Saponaria Wood Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf Extract, Papaver Rhoeas Flower Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Lamium Album Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Michelia Alba Leaf Oil, Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyglycerin-3, Squalane, Lactobacillus Ferment, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, P-Anisic Acid, Citric Acid, Linalool
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingJasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingEugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingPunica Granatum Seed Oil
EmollientHippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil
Skin ProtectingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingFarnesol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingRosa Canina Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil, Geraniol, Citronellol, Farnesol, Citral
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/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 TriglycerideHelianthus 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 OilJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis 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