What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Squalane, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Ubiquinone, Tocopherol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Rubus Occidentalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Emollient
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
Antioxidant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Isoamyl Laurate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Rubus Occidentalis Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Guaiazulene, Tocopheryl Acetate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carthamus tinctorius seed oil comes from safflower, one of humanity's oldest crops.
Safflower seed oil contains a high percentage of linoleic acid and oleic acid. It also contains Vitamin E. These three components are effective moisturizers.
Vitamin E helps nourish your skin's lipid barrier. It is also a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, or unstable molecules that may damage your skin cells.
Due to its high fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis safe.
Thoughout history, safflower has been used for dying fabrics and in food as a saffron substitute.
Learn more about Carthamus Tinctorius Seed OilHelianthus 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 OilTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.
THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).
Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.
Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun.
Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.
A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).
While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.
THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateTocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
