What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Paraffinum Liquidum
EmollientPolyisobutene
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientParfum
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantButylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Cetearyl Olivate
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBHT
AntioxidantHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCinnamyl Alcohol
PerfumingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientBixa Orellana Seed Oil
EmollientRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
HumectantCollagen
Moisturising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialParaffinum Liquidum, Polyisobutene, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Parfum, Glycerin, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Sorbitan Olivate, Water, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Propolis Extract, Panthenol, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, BHT, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Royal Jelly Extract, Honey Extract, Collagen, 1,2-Hexanediol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantDilinoleic Acid/Propanediol Copolymer
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventPhytosteryl Sunflowerseedate
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingWater, Panthenol, Sorbitol, Isohexadecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Dilinoleic Acid/Propanediol Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Diisostearyl Malate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Phytosteryl Sunflowerseedate, Beeswax, Polysorbate 60, Glyceryl Stearate, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-100 Stearate, Arginine, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Allantoin, Parfum, Polysorbate 80, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sorbitan Oleate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Glycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus 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 OilThis ingredient is also known as Macadamia Seed Oil. It's an emollient with a fatty acid profile that closely mirrors the skin's own lipid makeup.
The palmitoleic acid content is especially notable as it's somewhat rare in plant oils. Palmitoleic acid is something your skin already makes naturally. It helps keep cell membranes structured and plays a role in fighting off harmful microbes.
This palmitoleic content is also part of why macademia seed oil absorbs quickly and doesn't leave much of a greasy residue.
It also contains oleic acid, linoleic acid, and phytosterols that can help reduce redness.
In vitro research has shown the oil to have meaningful antioxidant activity, protect fats in the skin from oxidative damage, and slow down the enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid.
A 2024 clinical study found it effective at improving skin hydratino and reducing wrinkle appearance when formulated into nanoemulsions.
Because it carries oleic acid (C18) and palmitic acid (C16), this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the Malassezia yeast metabolizes in the C11-24 chain length range.
You'll also see this ingredient listed as: Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil .
These two oils are identical in composition and 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 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 OilPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or '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 by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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