What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Alaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Jasminum Officinale Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Ocimum Basilicum Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
C13-16 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Caryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Copaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingAstrocaryum Vulgare Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopentyldiol, Glyceryl Stearate, C13-16 Isoparaffin, Glycerin, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Caryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Behenyl Alcohol, Squalane, Collagen Amino Acids, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Astrocaryum Vulgare Kernel Oil, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Tocopherol, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Heptyl Undecylenate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Salicylate, CI 77891
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.
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 TriglycerideThis ingredient is also known as coconut oil. It is a plant-derived ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
The fatty acid profile of coconut oil is mostly lauric acid (~54%), followed by capric, caprylic, palmitic, and myristic acids. This profile allows it to penetrate easily into skin, moisturize, and improve dry skin.
A double-blind study confirmed that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective as mineral oil for treating very dry skin. Another study found it outperformed mineral oil for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children.
Another study from 2018 found that virgin coconut oil can soothe inflammation and boost key skin barrier proteins. Just know this evidence is still only from lab settings and not human trials.
It has also been shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly overgrows in people with eczema.
Clinical testing shows very minimal skin irritation and no evidence of sensitization or phototoxicity.
Coconut oil gets flagged as a "fragrance" because it has a natural mild scent (not because it's a synthetic perfume). The European Cosmetic ingredient database also lists "perfuming" as a function of this ingredient.
Just so you know, the term "fragrance" is completely unregulated. Some brands still use botanical extracts or essential oils in their "fragrance-free" formulas, but regulatory databases technically classify these under "fragrance".
Coconut oil has a tiny and useless bit of natural SPF. Early lab studies clocked it around SPF 7-8 but a more recent study found the real number closer to SPF 1.2. It also offers no meaningful UVA protection (SPF only overs UVB rays).
The comedogenic rating of 4/5 means it has a high potential to clog pores; but it's worth noting that comedogenicity is highly individual and ratings cannot predict how an overall formula will behave on skin.
Since lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between 11-24, and lauric acid falls within these lengths (C12).
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera OilGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateHelianthus Annuus Extract comes from the common sunflower.
Sunflowers are rich in vitamin E. Studies show sunflowers contain antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.
The fatty acids found in sunflowers include (from highest amount to least): linoleic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid.
These fatty acids hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus ExtractOryza Sativa Bran Extract comes from the outer layer of a rice kernel. It is a byproduct of milling rice, or the operation to produce a whole grain rice product.
This ingredient has moisturizing properties due to its components of polysaccharides and omega-3 fatty acids. It also contains calcium, selenium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc.
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract contains numerous antioxidants such as ferulic acid. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material.
Learn more about Oryza Sativa Bran ExtractThis is a botanical extract from the rosemary plant (the same one you cook with). In skincare, it mostly works as a skin conditioning agent.
Its activity comes from a handful of polyphenols, carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid. Almost 90% of the antioxidant activity of this ingredient can be attributed to canosol and carnosic acid.
These compounds protect your skin two ways:
1) They fight off free radicals, or the unstable molecules from things like sun and pollution that age and damage skin.
2) They help calm inflammation by switching off the chemical signals that tell skin to get red and irritated.
Lab studies also suggest that rosmarinic acid may help protect collagen and slow sugar-related damage to it.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be non-sensitizing.
Rosemary can occasionally cause allergic contact dermatitis (due to carnosol), so be sure to patch test if you have reactive or fragrance-sensitive skin.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol
