What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Phytate
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientTetraacetylphytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Stearic Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, C14-22 Alcohols, 1,2-Hexanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Arginine, Carbomer, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Phytate, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Malt Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tetraacetylphytosphingosine, Glycosphingolipids, Xanthan Gum
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
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 TriglycerideDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideHelianthus 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 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 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