What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantC9-12 Alkane
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventSucrose Stearate
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingBisabolol
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, C9-12 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Water, Propanediol, Sucrose Stearate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Bisabolol, 1,2-Hexanediol, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sucrose Palmitate
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDiisopropyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientEthylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingBakuchiol
AntimicrobialCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningRetinal
Skin ConditioningGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Bidens Pilosa Extract
HumectantHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningWithania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantCucumis Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantPolyisobutene
Bisabolol
AntioxidantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingWater, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Isononyl Isononanoate, Diisopropyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Glycerin, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Bakuchiol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Retinal, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysilicone-11, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Polyisobutene, Bisabolol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phytosterols, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phospholipids, Phenethyl Alcohol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololCaprylhydroxamic Acid is a chelating agent that helps cosmetics stay fresh, stable, and consistent over time.
Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted reactions and effects from using the product. It also helps prevent the growth of unwanted microbes in products that contain water.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is often used with natural antimicrobial products as an alternative to preservatives.
Learn more about Caprylhydroxamic AcidCaprylic/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 TriglycerideGlycerin (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 OilTocopheryl 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 AcetateWater. 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 WaterZingiber Officinale is more commonly known as ginger.
Ginger root has antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and antimicrobial properties.
The antioxidant properties help protect your body from free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. As a result, ginger may help slow down signs of aging such as hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.
Studies show ginger inhibits the enzyme that breaks down collagen. It also helps with:
This ingredient has no negative side-effects and is safe to use unless one has a specific allergy to it.
Ginger originates from Southeast Asia but has spread throughout the world. It is now a common spice used in many cultures.
Learn more about Zingiber Officinale Root Extract