What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Isododecane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Germ Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantPentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCamelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingIsododecane, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Coumarin, Benzyl Alcohol, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantCoconut Alkanes
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientBrassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Skin ConditioningSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPlukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingSodium Lactate
BufferingPCA
HumectantAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingHistidine
HumectantIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingThreonine
Valine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Coconut Alkanes, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Alanine, Arginine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Valine, Aspartic Acid, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You 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 OilCaprylic/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 TriglyceridePentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil is an oil and isn't fungal acne safe.
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil (aka marula oil) is a skin hydrating ingredient.
Its fatty acid profile is dominated by oleic acid (~69%), palmitic acid (~15%), linoleic acid (~9%), and palmitoleic acid (~4%).
These fatty acids are very similar to those naturally found in the epidermis, making this oil biomimetic; basically, your skin recognizes it.
Clinical testing found this ingredient to be moisturizing and non-irritating, with noteworthy effects on reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
Besides fatty acids, marula oil is also rich in oxidative stabilizers like vitamin E, vitamin C precursors, and polyphenols. This gives it excellent shelf stability compared to most facial oils.
This is a great ingredient for dry, dull, or barrier-compromised skin.
Just know it may not be fungal acne safe due to the oleic and palmitic acid content. These fatty acids can as as a food source for the Malassezia yeast.
Learn more about Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil