What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
C15-19 Alkane
SolventMacadamia Integrifolia/Tetraphylla Seed Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citronellol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Isoamyl Laurate, C15-19 Alkane, Macadamia Integrifolia/Tetraphylla Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cocoglycerides, Coco-Caprylate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Bakuchiol, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citronellol, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Geraniol, Eugenol, Linalool, Parfum
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
C15-19 Alkane
SolventSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, C15-19 Alkane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Bakuchiol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Ubiquinone, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant. It has antimicrobial, emollient, skin conditioning, and antioxidant properties.
You'll likely see it called a "retinol replacement" but the two are technically not related. This is because bakuchiol is able to flip many of the same switches in your skin cells to tell them to:
1) produce more collagen (type I, III, and IV)
2) activate the same genes retinoids do
Unlike retinoids, this ingredient will not increase photosensitivity and is safe to use during pregnancy (but please still check in with your doctor!).
The flagship clinical trial from Dhaliwal et al. 2019 found 0.5% bakuchiol (twice daily) and 0.5% retinol (once daily) reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation equally, but bakuchiol had significantly less irritation.
Systematic reviews also back this up:
Bakuchiol is comparable to retinol for photoaging but with better tolerability. It also has mild antibacterial properties against Cutibacterium acnes and antifungal activity in vitro against Candida and dermatophytes.
The reason bakuchiol works well is due to its structure; it is a meroterpene phenol, or a hybrid molecule. The phenol half acts as an antioxidant while the terpene half is fat-loving. This helps the molecule slip through the skin barrier.
This ingredient is usually used between 0.5-2%. Only one case of contact dermatitis has ever been reported for this ingredient.
Learn more about BakuchiolC15-19 alkane is a mixture of alkanes. Alkanes are hydrocarbons with carbon atoms held together by single bonds.
It is a synthetically created solvent and emollient often used to replace silicones or mineral oil. As an emollient, C15-19 Alkane helps soften and soothe the skin. Emollients create a barrier to trap moisture inside.
You'll often see this ingredient used with mineral UV filters such as titanium dioxidide and zinc oxide. It helps these UV filter ingredients be more spreadable.
This ingredient is biodegradable. According to a manufacturer, it is also known as Hydrogenated Polyfarnesene.
Learn more about C15-19 AlkaneJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis 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
