What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer
EmollientDimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientC15-19 Alkane
SolventSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Morus Nigra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientBixa Orellana Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
CI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, C15-19 Alkane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Morus Nigra Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Diisostearyl Malate, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, CI 15850
Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Bixa Orellana Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Honey Extract
Humectant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Parfum, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Honey Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Propolis Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bixa Orellana Seed Oil is an oil and isn't fungal acne safe.
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 TriglycerideGlycine Soja Oil is a plant-derived oil from soybean seeds. Like other oils, it is rich in essential fatty acids (mostly linoleic and oleic) that support skin hydration and barrier function.
The fatty acids are able to integrate into the lipid matrix of the stratum corneum to help soften skin and reduce water loss.
On top of that, soybean oil is rich in vitamins like vitamin E, a potent antioxidant.
Research on soybean's active components also point to anti-inflammatory, collagen-stimulating, antioxidant activity, and protection against UV-induced oxidative damage.
Most of this research applies to the broader soybean plant and not just the oil fraction alone.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to the oleic acid content.
Learn more about Glycine Soja 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 OilWe don't have a description for Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer yet.
Jojoba 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
