What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil
Emollient
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Trioleate
Emulsifying
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Laminaria Hyperborea Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Apium Graveolens Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Squalane, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Limonene, Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Plankton Extract, Sorbitan Trioleate, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Laminaria Hyperborea Extract, Tocopherol, Apium Graveolens Seed Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Linalool, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingIsostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingAristotelia Chilensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract
Cosmetic ColorantLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitral
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Isostearyl Isostearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Triheptanoin, Ceteareth-20, Aristotelia Chilensis Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Isohexadecane, Maltodextrin, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about CitralHelianthus 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 OilLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolTocopherol 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
