What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
EmollientRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Seed Oil
EmollientCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Seed Oil
HumectantCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingIsostearic Acid
CleansingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeMonascus Extract
Skin ConditioningTribehenin
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCI 45380
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantLimonene
PerfumingPolyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Diisostearyl Malate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Seed Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isostearic Acid, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Monascus Extract, Tribehenin, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sorbitan Isostearate, Water, Butylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, CI 45380, CI 15850, CI 77491, Limonene
Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientBixa Orellana Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientHoney Extract
HumectantHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Parfum, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Honey Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Propolis Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Reviews
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 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 Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer yet.
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil is a non-fragrant plant oil that has earned its skincare reputation through chemistry.
It's dominated by fatty acids like linoleic acid (~35-55%), alpha-linolenic acid (~17-27%), and oleic acid (~14-22%). This is the exact profile that supports skin barrier, locks in hydration, and calms inflammation.
A 2024 review found evidence for the Rosa canina species supports its use for scarring, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and atopic dermatitis; this was mostly credited to its vitamin C content and fatty acid composition as the primary active mechanisms.
You might see this ingredient marketed as a "natural retinol". Some rosehip seed oils contains traces of all-trans-retinoic acid but these trace amounts are far below biologically active levels.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel has deemed this ingredient safe and it's well-tolerated.
Fungal acne: The fatty acids of this oil fall into the C11-24 range that Malassezia yeast can metabolize, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Rosa Canina Fruit OilJojoba 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 Oil