What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Behenate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
EmollientDiisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Menthol
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Aroma
CI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glycerin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Water, Behenyl Behenate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Menthol, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Aroma, CI 15850, CI 77491
Sucrose
Humectant
Polyisobutene
Citrus Limon Seed Oil
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingHydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citrus Limon Peel Powder
AbsorbentDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Canola Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Sucrose, Polyisobutene, Citrus Limon Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Triethylhexanoin, Hydroxystearic Acid, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Limon Peel Powder, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Canola Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolThis 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 OilGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGlycerin (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 OilPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil comes from the sweet almond, a tree native to Iran. This oil has no fragrance and is non-volatile.
Almonds contain healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. It is a rich source of Vitamin E, a great antioxidant and skin conditioning ingredient. Sweet almond oil contains fatty acids such as linolenic acid and triglycerides.
The content of sweet almond oil makes it a great emollient; it can help soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a barrier over your skin to trap moisture in. Sweet almond oil has antioxidant properties.
Those with an almond allergy should be careful of this ingredient and speak with a professional about using it in your skincare.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
