What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCorylus Avellana Seed Oil
EmollientCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Dicaprylyl Ether, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Corylus Avellana Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Parfum, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Ascorbic Acid, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Linalool, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol
Polybutene
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientEthylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Oil
MaskingCapsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Nicotinate
AntioxidantVanillyl Butyl Ether
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantOctyldodecanol
EmollientDibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningIsostearic Acid
CleansingMenthyl Ethylamido Oxalate
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningButylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingHydroxymethoxyphenyl Propylmethylmethoxybenzofuran
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAroma
Benzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCinnamal
PerfumingCinnamyl Alcohol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPolybutene, Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Oil, Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopheryl Nicotinate, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Isostearic Acid, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Propylmethylmethoxybenzofuran, Water, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Aroma, Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Eugenol, CI 45410, CI 73360, CI 42090, CI 77491, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 OilPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate is a plant-derived, oil-soluble emulsifier. It keeps water-in-oil emulsions stable to prevent the ingredients from separating.
On the safety front, it's considered non-irritating and well-tolerated (it can even be found in formulations for baby skin).
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because research has shown that the Malassezia species can grow in the presence of fatty acid esters with chain lengths above C12 (and this one is C18).
While it does have a comedogenic rating of 4, the comedogenic rating scale was developed from rabbit ear models which has limited clinical relevance to human skin. Studies also show that comedogenic ingredients cannot predict how the overall formula will behave on human skin.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 DiisostearateTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate