What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Domestica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Commiphora Myrrha Oil
Masking
Jasminum Grandiflorum Flower Extract
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Myroxylon Pereirae Oil
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Cinnamate
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Isoeugenol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Jasminum Grandiflorum Flower Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Myroxylon Pereirae Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Cinnamate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral, Eugenol, Farnesol, Isoeugenol, Limonene, Linalool
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Domestica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Emollient
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Masking
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitral
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Ubiquinone, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citral, Citronellol, Eugenol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil comes from the Tamanu tree. This tree grows in tropical regions of Asia and Polynesian countries such as Fiji.
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil contains many fatty acids such as linoleic, oleic, stearic, and palmitic acid. These properties help your skin stay hydrated.
As an antioxidant, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil may also slow down the signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight unstable free-radical molecules.
These molecules may damage your skin cells and speed up aging. By helping to stabilize these molecules, antioxidants may help slow the signs of aging.
A study from 2015 found Tamanu oil to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Another study from 2009 found Tamanu Oil to help absorb UV rays. However, this should not replace your sunscreen.
Due to the fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed OilCitral 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 CitralCitrus Limon Peel Oil is created from the peels of the lemon. It is used to add a lemon-scent to products. Lemon peel oil also has antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. However, it may also cause phototoxicity and sensitize skin.
Lemon peel oil contains limonene, a skin sensitizing ingredient. Another component is furanocoumarin, which induces phototoxicity in skin.
Furanocoumarins bind and destabilize your DNA to increase the rate of sunburn.
Most reputable companies will remove furanocoumarins from their formulations.
Learn more about Citrus Limon Peel OilSweet orange peel oil is made by cold-pressing the peel of a sweet orange to squeeze out its naturally fragrant oil. In skincare, it's mostly used to give products a fresh, citrusy scent.
It's generally considered safe, but citrus peel naturally contains compounds called furocoumarins. These become phototoxic when exposed to UV - meaning they react with sunlight in a way that can irritate or damage skin.
At higher concentrations, that reaction can lead to sun sensitivity, irritation, or dermatitis (red, inflamed skin). If your skin is sensitive, it's worth being a little cautious with fragrant citrus oils like this one.
Learn more about Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil ExpressedEugenol is naturally found in cloves, basil, and bay leaves. It is an aromatic oil used to add fragrance to a product. The scent of eugenol is described as "clove-like". Eugenol is a known EU allergen, meaning it causes contact allergies.
Studies show eugenol possesses antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
Besides cosmetics, eugenol is also added as a flavor in teas and cakes.
Learn more about EugenolFarnesol is a compound extracted from essential oils such as lemongrass, rose, and more. It is used as a fragrance in products to help boost floral scents.
Farnesol is a known EU allergen and causes contact dermatitis.
This ingredient is hydrophobic, meaning it is not soluble in water.
Learn more about FarnesolLimonene 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 LinaloolThis 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 OilThis ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilPrunus Domestica Seed Oil is an oil and isn't fungal acne safe.
