What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Zea Mays Germ Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventMorinda Citrifolia Extract
AstringentPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Sparassis Crispa Extract
Emulsion StabilisingAspartic Acid
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingLeucine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentRubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Arginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Valine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Histidine
Humectant
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Madecassoside, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, Tocopherol, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Dimethyl Sulfone, Morinda Citrifolia Extract, Panthenol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Adenosine, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Sparassis Crispa Extract, Aspartic Acid, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Leucine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Bacillus Ferment, Sclerotium Gum, Alanine, Lysine, Caprylyl Glycol, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Isoleucine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Octyldodecanol, Histidine, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Methionine, Cysteine, Ceramide NP, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Water, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Sterols, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
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 OilLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil is from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant. It is a skin conditioning agent and emollient that sits on top of skin to soften and hydrate it.
Over 98% of the oil is made up of long-chain fatty acids, mostly aachidic acid (61%), docosenoic acid (~16%), and docosadienoic acid (~18%).
This combination is not really found in any other plant oil and is the reason this is one of the most stable botanical oils available.
Some studies show it to be more stable than jojoba oil, helps a product resist going rancid, and can help extend the shelf life of a formula.
It also naturally contains vitamin E and phytosterols that give it a mild antioxidant benefit.
This ingredient is typically used from around 1% to fairly high levels since it's gentle; it's well-tolerated and low on the irritation scale.
Learn more about Limnanthes Alba Seed OilTocopherol 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
