What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Paraffinum Liquidum
EmollientCyclomethicone
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientZea Mays Oil
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Dipalmitate
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingRosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil
EmollientTrilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientOrange Roughy Oil
Skin ConditioningSorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPEG-8 Glyceryl Isostearate
EmollientCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum, Cyclomethicone, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Water, Phenoxyethanol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Zea Mays Oil, Ascorbyl Dipalmitate, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Orange Roughy Oil, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PEG-8 Glyceryl Isostearate, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Oil
Glycine Soja Oil
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientSorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientPolyisobutene
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSalvia Officinalis Oil
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantWater
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingGlycine Soja Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isopropyl Myristate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Triethylhexanoin, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Polyisobutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Water, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Tocopherol, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Helianthus 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 OilIsopropyl Myristate is an ester made by combining isopropyl alcohol with myristic acid.
It is primarily an emollient and penetration enhancer that gives products a lightweight, silky feel without the heaviness of oils.
This ingredient is generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating, and has low absorption potential.
You might have heard that this ingredient clogs pores. This reputation comes from the older rabbit ear studies which are more sensitive than human skin to clogging.
Dermatologist Dr. Zoe Draelos has also confirmed in a peer-reviewed paper that products containing comedogenic ingredients are not necessarily comedogenic themselves.
A small subset of people (~2%) may experience contact sensitivity so patch testing is a reasonable idea if you have reactive skin.
Since this ingredient is an ester of myristic acid (a C14 fatty acid), it falls within the carbon chain range that is known to feed Malassezia. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Isopropyl MyristateSorbeth-30 Tetraoleate is a surfactant and emulsifier.
This ingredient is a tetraester from oleic acid and polyethylene glycol ether of sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it helps ingredients such as oil and water mix together. This allows the dirt and oils in your skin to be washed away.
One study found pumpkin oil containing Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate helped hydrate the skin and did not cause any irritation.
Learn more about Sorbeth-30 TetraoleateTocopherol 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 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