What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycine Soja Oil
EmollientCorylus Avellana Seed Oil
EmollientSorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
EmulsifyingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSqualane
EmollientIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientSaponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientRice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Oil, Corylus Avellana Seed Oil, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Isoamyl Laurate, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Decyl Glucoside, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPoloxamer 184
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMusa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sesame Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
AbrasiveSodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetylpyridinium Chloride
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Citric Acid
BufferingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingWater, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Poloxamer 184, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Sesame Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids, Hexylene Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetylpyridinium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Citric Acid, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil
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 OilThis ingredient is also known as tea tree oil. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Tea tree oil is a complex lipophilic (fat-loving) oil that contains around 100 compounds with terpinen-4-ol being the most abundant (~40%).
Terpinen-4-ol is responsible for tea tree oil's broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and makes it a well-researched option for acne.
Clinical studies support 5% tea tree oil as an effective topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. A study with 124 patients compared 5% tea tree oil gel to 5% benzoyl peroxide and both reduced acne (though tea tree oil worked more slowly).
Besides acne, it is also seen in anti-dandruff shampoos and scalp treatments for it's antimicrobial and anti-seborrheic properties.
Safety-wise, the allergic potential of low concentrations on healthy skin is considered low. However, oxidized (old or improperly stored) tea tree oil is a stronger sensitizer.
Irritation can also occur if using the undiluted oil on skin; it's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted cosmetic formula. This is because regulations require tea tree oil in cosmetics to be stabilized to prevent degradation.
This ingredient has been deemed safe up to 2% in shampoo, 1% in cleansers, and 0.1% in face cream by the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).
There is some lab evidence that tea tree oil is antifungal against Malassezia, but it is a supportive option at best and not a replacement for proven antifungal treatments.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilThis ingredient is also known as olive oil. It has been used in skincare for centuries and science largely backs up its reputation as a nourishing emollient.
The main components of olive oil are oleic acid (55-83%), linoleic acid (3.5-20%), and palmitic acid (7-20%). Oleic acid promotes skin regeneration and helps regulate inflammatory responses.
Squalene is also naturally present in olive oil and exhibits moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
The polyphenols in olive oil also show anti-aging promise; one clinical study found a measurable improvement in skin appearance after 30 days of topical serum use.
Just be aware that applying olive oil directly to skin can weaken the barrier and cause redness. One study with volunteers found even people without sensitive skin experienced a significant reduction in stratum corneum integrity and induced mild erythema.
It's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted formula (instead of putting it on skin directly from the bottle).
Because it has a 2-3 on the comedogenic scale, it is a moderate risk for acne-prone skin. However, the overall formulation of a product matters more than a few ingredients with comedogenic ratings.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because of the oleic and palmitic acid content. These fall within the C11-24 fatty acid range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize to grow.
Overall, olive oil is a well-studied and nourishing skincare ingredient.
Learn more about Olea Europaea Fruit OilJojoba 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 Oil