What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeRosa Damascena Flower Extract
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingEugenol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Eugenol, Geraniol, Citronellol, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSteareth-2
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSteareth-21
CleansingHydrogenated Coconut Oil
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCentaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
AstringentAphloia Theiformis Leaf Extract
AstringentSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingEthyl Linoleate
EmollientZea Mays Germ Oil
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCorylus Avellana Seed Oil
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientLecithin
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSorbic Acid
PreservativePrunus Persica Kernel Oil
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingPistacia Vera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Germ Oil
EmollientOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Oil
EmollientJuglans Regia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantSilybum Marianum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientOenothera Biennis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCarapa Guaianensis Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCamelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingRosa Damascena Extract
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingCitronellol
PerfumingAlcohol
AntimicrobialPropyl Gallate
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Dimethicone, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Steareth-2, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Steareth-21, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Stearyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Aphloia Theiformis Leaf Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Ethyl Linoleate, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Corylus Avellana Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbic Acid, Prunus Persica Kernel Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Pistacia Vera Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Oryza Sativa Germ Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Oil, Juglans Regia Seed Oil, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, BHT, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Oenothera Biennis Seed Extract, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Rosa Damascena Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Alcohol, Propyl Gallate
Reviews
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 CitronellolGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateHelianthus 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 OilMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil is the fixed oil obtained from Macadamia nut native to Australia. Due to its similarity with our skin's natural oils, macadamia oil absorbs easily without feeling greasy.
Macadamia seed oil is rich in fatty acids, including oleic acid (45-75%), palmitoleic acid (7-33%), and palmitic acid (6-12%). They also contain various B vitamins, iron, and magnesium.
Palmitoleic acid helps calm inflammation and supports wound healing while oleic acid helps hydrate the skin.
Due to the high amounts of palmitic and oleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. These are fatty acids that Malassezia yeast can feed on (C11-C24 chain length). If you're prone to fungal acne, this one's probably not for you.
You'll also see this ingredient listed as: Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil . This is the same ingredient; M. ternifolia is an older INCI naming convention for the edible macadamia nut, while M. integrifolia is the species actually cultivated for oil production. Both names refer to the same oil.
Learn more about Macadamia Ternifolia Seed OilThis ingredient is also known as sweet almond oil. It is a lightweight, cold-pressed oil from the ripe seeds of the sweet almond tree.
Sweet almond oil is rich in skin-nourishing fatty acids such as oleic acid (55-86%) and linolenic acid (7-35%).
As an emollient, it softens and hydrates skin by forming a thin barrier that locks in moisture.
Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing. The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the available safety data and concluded it is safe for topical use.
Because of the oleic acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis 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.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholTocopherol 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