What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Silybum Marianum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningNigella Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientCucumis Sativus Seed Oil
EmollientPunica Granatum Seed Oil
EmollientDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientVaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialEthyl Linoleate
EmollientMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
MaskingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient4-Terpineol
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAmber Powder
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingCurcuma Longa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicSilybum Marianum Seed Oil, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Hexylresorcinol, Ethyl Linoleate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, 4-Terpineol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Amber Powder, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
Squalane
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPhysalis Angulata Extract
Skin ProtectingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingSqualane, C13-15 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Physalis Angulata Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
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 OilThis is a botanical extract from the rosemary plant (the same one you cook with). In skincare, it mostly works as a skin conditioning agent.
Its activity comes from a handful of polyphenols, carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid. Almost 90% of the antioxidant activity of this ingredient can be attributed to canosol and carnosic acid.
These compounds protect your skin two ways:
1) They fight off free radicals, or the unstable molecules from things like sun and pollution that age and damage skin.
2) They help calm inflammation by switching off the chemical signals that tell skin to get red and irritated.
Lab studies also suggest that rosmarinic acid may help protect collagen and slow sugar-related damage to it.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be non-sensitizing.
Rosemary can occasionally cause allergic contact dermatitis (due to carnosol), so be sure to patch test if you have reactive or fragrance-sensitive skin.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractTocopherol 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