What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingEctoin
Skin ConditioningMel
EmollientPropolis Cera
AntiseborrhoeicGlycerin
HumectantXylitol
HumectantLactitol
HumectantHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningRibes Nigrum Seed Oil
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil
EmollientOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialApium Graveolens Seed Extract
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeParfum
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ectoin, Mel, Propolis Cera, Glycerin, Xylitol, Lactitol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Tocopherol, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Apium Graveolens Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Citric Acid, Caramel, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Coumarin, Linalool, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantWhey
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientRibes Nigrum Seed Oil
EmollientCardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Whey, Octyldodecanol, C12-16 Alcohols, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Palmitic Acid, 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.
Cardiospermum halicacabum extract is more commonly known as Balloon Vine Extract.
Balloon Vine Extract helps soothe skin and is an antioxidant. It also contains many fatty acids, such as palmitic, oleic, and stearic acids. While these fatty acids help soften skin, they may not be fungal-friendly.
Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Balloon Vine has been used in traditional medicine in many Asian cultures.
Learn more about Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus 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 OilSunflower seed oil unsaponifiables comes from the the small part of sunflower seed oil that does not convert into soap during the saponification process.
This ingredient is rich in vitamin E, fatty acids (like linoleic acid), and other lipophilic compounds, making it a great emollient. Emollients help keep the skin hydrated and soft.
Due to its rich fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil UnsaponifiablesOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil is oil from the seeds of Black Currant. A more common name for this ingredient is Black Currant Seed Oil.
Black Currant Seed Oil contains a high amount of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. It also contains linoleic acid.
Black currant berries contain anthocyanins, an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Black currant berries also contain Vitamin E and fatty acids. It can help soften the skin.
Learn more about Ribes Nigrum Seed OilRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract comes from rosemary. Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean.
While Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil can be volatile due to its fragrant properties, the fragrance components are usually removed in the leaf extract.
Rosemary Leaf Extract contains many antioxidants such as rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid. Rosemarinic acid, a compound found in rosemary leaf, has been found to help soothe skin conditions such as eczema and acne.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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