What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingSucrose
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantBabassuamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingSqualane
EmollientCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Extract
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePelargonium Graveolens Leaf Oil
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCamellia Oleifera Seed Extract
AstringentMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingPanax Ginseng Seed Oil
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientCucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingGelatin
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Michelia Alba Leaf Oil
MaskingGypsophila Paniculata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
HumectantGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientPEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol
CleansingCeteth-4
EmulsifyingSalvia Sclarea Oil
MaskingVigna Radiata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningQuillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins
Skin ConditioningSaponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBHT
AntioxidantCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantOcimum Basilicum Oil
MaskingMichelia Alba Flower Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientAlbumen Extract
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingBacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientProline
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingDioscorea Opposita Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Berry Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phosphate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicNiacinamide
SmoothingLinolenic Acid
CleansingTropolone
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Oil
MaskingThymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Oil
MaskingWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids, Potassium Cocoate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sucrose, Tromethamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Butylene Glycol, Babassuamidopropyl Betaine, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Squalane, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Pelargonium Graveolens Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Panax Ginseng Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Gelatin, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Michelia Alba Leaf Oil, Gypsophila Paniculata Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, PEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol, Ceteth-4, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Vigna Radiata Seed Extract, Cholesterol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, BHT, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Michelia Alba Flower Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Albumen Extract, Linoleic Acid, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Chlorphenesin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Proline, Alanine, Serine, Dioscorea Opposita Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Sodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Cellulose Gum, Biotin, Niacinamide, Linolenic Acid, Tropolone, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Oil
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
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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 OilCamellia Japonica Seed Oil comes from the Japanese Camellia plant. This plant is native to East Asia and known as "Tsubaki" in Japanese.
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil is rich in oleic acid. This makes it a great emollient. Emollients help soften and soothe the skin by forming a barrier. This barrier traps moisture within, keeping your skin hydated.
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 TriglycerideHelianthus 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 OilLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia 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 OilWe don't have a description for Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract yet.
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.
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 OilSqualane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about Squalane