What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCannabidiol - Synthetically Produced
AntioxidantCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
AntimicrobialEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Seed Extract
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientCopaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialWater
Skin ConditioningIsomalt
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Cannabidiol - Synthetically Produced, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Bakuchiol, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Squalane, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Water, Isomalt, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Butter
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientAleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientCera Alba
EmollientHydrogenated Grapeseed Oil
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Seed Oil
EmollientLecithin
EmollientTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Martini Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Sclarea Oil
MaskingTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingJasminum Grandiflorum Flower Extract
MaskingGardenia Taitensis Flower
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Cera Alba, Hydrogenated Grapeseed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Oryza Sativa Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Lecithin, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycine Soja Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Jasminum Grandiflorum Flower Extract, Gardenia Taitensis Flower
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCannabis Sativa Seed Oil is the fixed oil expressed from the seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant. This is also known as hemp oil.
Hemp oil is an emollient and nourishes the skin. It contains many fatty acids such as linoleic acid, amino acids, phospholipids, and vitamin E.
The difference between hemp and cannabis is their psychoactive component. Hemp has low amounts of THC.
Learn more about Cannabis Sativa Seed OilThis ingredient is also known as coconut oil. It is a plant-derived ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
The fatty acid profile of coconut oil is mostly lauric acid (~54%), followed by capric, caprylic, palmitic, and myristic acids. This profile allows it to penetrate easily into skin, moisturize, and improve dry skin.
A double-blind study confirmed that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective as mineral oil for treating very dry skin. Another study found it outperformed mineral oil for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children.
Another study from 2018 found that virgin coconut oil can soothe inflammation and boost key skin barrier proteins. Just know this evidence is still only from lab settings and not human trials.
It has also been shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly overgrows in people with eczema.
Clinical testing shows very minimal skin irritation and no evidence of sensitization or phototoxicity.
Coconut oil gets flagged as a "fragrance" because it has a natural mild scent (not because it's a synthetic perfume). The European Cosmetic ingredient database also lists "perfuming" as a function of this ingredient.
Just so you know, the term "fragrance" is completely unregulated. Some brands still use botanical extracts or essential oils in their "fragrance-free" formulas, but regulatory databases technically classify these under "fragrance".
Coconut oil has a tiny and useless bit of natural SPF. Early lab studies clocked it around SPF 7-8 but a more recent study found the real number closer to SPF 1.2. It also offers no meaningful UVA protection (SPF only overs UVB rays).
The comedogenic rating of 4/5 means it has a high potential to clog pores; but it's worth noting that comedogenicity is highly individual and ratings cannot predict how an overall formula will behave on skin.
Since lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between 11-24, and lauric acid falls within these lengths (C12).
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera OilHelianthus 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 OilLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil is the oil extracted from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant. This oil is non-fragrant and is an emollient. As an emollient, meadowfoam seed oil helps soften and hydrate the skin.
Meadowfoam seed oil is stable and has a long shelf life due to its chemical structure. It has the highest concentration of stable fatty-acids among plant oils, preventing it from degrading once exposed to oxygen.
Due to the fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Meadowfoam is native to California and Oregon.
Learn more about Limnanthes Alba Seed OilThis ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateVitis Vinifera Seed Oil comes from the grape vine. Grape seeds are a byproduct of creating grape juice or wine.
The components of grape seeds have many skin benefits. Research has found it to be antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. It also contains many potent antioxidants such as Vitamin E , Vitamin C, proanthocyanidins, polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Proanthocyanidin has been shown to help even out skin tone.
Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radicals by donating extra electrons. Grape seed extract may help reduce the signs of aging.
The antimicrobial properties of grape seed may help treat acne. However, more research is needed to support this claim.
Grape seed has also been found to help absorb UV rays. Grape seed extract should not replace your sunscreen.
The fatty acids of grape seed oil give it emollient properties. Emollients help soothe and soften your skin by creating a film. This film traps moisture within, keeping your skin hydrated.
Learn more about Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil