What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Polyisobutene
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningMethyl Hydrogenated Rosinate
PerfumingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
EmollientVanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil
EmollientMentha Spicata Herb Oil
PerfumingElaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantPolyisobutene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Beeswax, Microcrystalline Wax, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Propolis Extract, Honey Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil, Mentha Spicata Herb Oil, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Tocopherol
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCeresin
Emulsion StabilisingMeadowfoam Delta-Lactone
Skin ConditioningEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingParaffin
PerfumingJojoba Esters
EmollientPolyethylene
AbrasivePrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningTribehenin
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Seed Oil
HumectantCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningMonascus Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantAlteromonas Ferment Filtrate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Octyldodecanol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Microcrystalline Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Ceresin, Meadowfoam Delta-Lactone, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Ozokerite, Paraffin, Jojoba Esters, Polyethylene, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Tribehenin, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Trihydroxystearin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Ceramide NP, Monascus Extract, Water, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Alteromonas Ferment Filtrate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bacillus Ferment, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP
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 OilCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPHelianthus 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 OilMicrocrystalline Wax is derived from petroleum through a de-oiling process, then highly refined and purified before use in cosmetics.
In skincare formulations, it is used to improve texture and create a smooth, even consistency. It also helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating.
Jojoba 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.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about Tocopherol