What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCannabidiol - Synthetically Produced
AntioxidantAhnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSymphytum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentRosa Centifolia Flower Extract
AstringentLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Cannabidiol - Synthetically Produced, Ahnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Phospholipids, Symphytum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialXylitylglucoside
HumectantBetaine
HumectantDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAhnfeltia Concinna Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningAnhydroxylitol
HumectantCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
AntimicrobialSymphytum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentWaltheria Indica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialLecithin
EmollientMannitol
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPrunus Cerasus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Centifolia Flower Extract
AstringentRosa Damascena Flower Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSuperoxide Dismutase
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingXylitol
HumectantSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialWater, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Xylitylglucoside, Betaine, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Panthenol, Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Anhydroxylitol, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Urtica Dioica Extract, Waltheria Indica Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Dextrin, Ferulic Acid, Lecithin, Mannitol, Phospholipids, Prunus Cerasus Flower Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Superoxide Dismutase, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Levulinate, Xanthan Gum, Xylitol, Sodium Anisate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.
Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.
It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceAscorbyl Palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) made by combining it with palmitic acid.
It is able to blend easily into creams and oil-based formulas because it dissolves in oils rather than water.
As you may know, regular vitamin C is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and air. Ascorbyl Palmitate is more stable and degrades at a slower rate.
Research on whether it converts efficiently into active vitamin C once it's applied on your skin is still limited. Some in-vitro studies suggest it may support collagen production, but it is not considered one of the stronger vitamin C derivatives, like:
Due to the palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Comedogenic studies have also shown this ingredient to have a rating of 2.
It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.
Learn more about Ascorbyl PalmitateCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil comes from the Tamanu tree. This tree grows in tropical regions of Asia and Polynesian countries such as Fiji.
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil contains many fatty acids such as linoleic, oleic, stearic, and palmitic acid. These properties help your skin stay hydrated.
As an antioxidant, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil may also slow down the signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight unstable free-radical molecules. These molecules may damage your skin cells and speed up aging. By helping to stabilize these molecules, antioxidants may help slow the signs of aging.
A study from 2015 found Tamanu oil to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Another study from 2009 found Tamanu Oil to help absorb UV rays. However, this should not replace your sunscreen.
Due to the fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed OilCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil comes from a green tea plant native to China. It is closely related to Camellia sinensis. Both plants have very similar properties. This plant also has similar properties to olive oil.
This ingredient is rich in oleic acid. This makes it an effective moisturizer. By creating a thin film on the skin, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil traps moisture within. This helps keep your skin smooth and hydrated.
The antioxidant and soothing properties of this ingredient come from Vitamin E and polyphenols.
The seed oil comes from the dried kernels of the plant.
Learn more about Camellia Oleifera Seed OilGlycerin (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 OilLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate is a natural preservative. It comes from fermenting radish roots with a bacteria called leuconostoc. The trade name for this ingredient is Leucidal.
Leuconostoc comes from lactic acid.
This ingredient has antimicrobial properties and helps prevent the growth of bacteria in a product.
Leuconostoc is used to make the traditional Korean side-dish, kimchi. It is also used to make sourdough bread (both incredibly yummy foods).
Learn more about Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment FiltratePanthenol 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 PanthenolPhospholipids are a family of skin-identical lipids that makeup the structural backbone of every cell membrane in your body.
In cosmetics, they function as skin conditioning agents with emulsifier and surfactant properties. They're typically sourced from soybean or sunflower lecithin (or sometimes egg yolk or marine sources).
Because they mirror the lipids naturally found in the deeper layers of your skin, topical phospholipids help reinforce the lipid matrix, reduce transepidermal water loss, and leave skin feeling conditioned.
They're also used to form liposomes, or tiny self-assembling vesible used to stabilize actives like vitamin c or retinol. This helps these ingredients integrate into the upper layers of skin more easily.
Phospholipids are compatible with everything and the CIR Expert Panel has concluded them to be safe at current use levels.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe since phospholipids contain fatty acid chains in the C11-24 range that the malassezia yeast likes to feed on.
Some types of phospholipids include:
Learn more about PhospholipidsThis extract comes from Rosa centifolia petals and flowers. It has astringent, masking, skin conditioning, and tonic properties.
The compounds in this ingredient can give skin a toning feel, which is why it's sometimes described as a mild astringent. It's often described as a tonic because rose ingredients have long been used in facial waters and toners for refreshing the skin.
Rosa centifolia has a natural floral scent that can mask or soften unpleasant odors from other ingredients.
Like other botanical extracts, people with very fragrance-sensitive skin may prefer to patch test.
Learn more about Rosa Centifolia Flower ExtractSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolThis ingredient is more commonly known as nettle extract. It has soothing, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties.
The antimicrobial properties of nettle come from its gallic acid content.
Water. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum