What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsododecane
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Hydroxy/Methoxy Amodimethicone
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
CleansingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isododecane, Caprylyl Methicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Bis-Hydroxy/Methoxy Amodimethicone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Dimethiconol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ceramide Ng, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Beta-Carotene
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Lauryl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Triolein
Skin Conditioning
Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Magnolia Denudata Flower Extract
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Vegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Squalane, Lauryl Dimethicone, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Parfum, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Triolein, Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil, Bisabolol, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Magnolia Denudata Flower Extract, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Water, Tocopherol, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Vegetable Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceramide NG is a type of Ceramide. The NG stands for a sphinganine base.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.
Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A stronger barrier helps the skin look more firm and hydrated. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.
If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.
Read more about other common types of ceramides here:
Ceramide AP
Ceramide EOP
Ceramide NP
Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
Helianthus 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 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 0-2 on the comedogenic scale, it is low risk for acne-prone skin. Just remember 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 castor oil. It is a skin conditioning ingredient.
The star component of castor oil is ricinoleic acid, an unusual fatty acid that makes up ~80-92% of its composition.
In skincare, it is an emollient that dries down to a solid film with water-binding properties. This helps keep skin hydrated and helps reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
A 2026 dermatology review pulls together its broader uses:
Human clinical testing found this ingredient to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Because castor oil contains fatty acids in the C11-24 range, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
At this time, the literature does not support castor oil in regrowing hair. A 2022 systematic review found no strong evidence that it supports hair growth and only weak evidence that it improves hair shine.
Castor oil itself carries "perfuming" and "masking" function tags according to the official CosIng database. This is because of its mild odor and odor-dampening properties.
Learn more about Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
