What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
Emollient
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Bacopa Monnieri Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAzadirachta Indica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Foeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract
EmollientWithania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Trifolium Pratense Extract
Skin ConditioningUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Taraxacum Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentMentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Essential Oils
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Bacopa Monnieri Leaf Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Trifolium Pratense Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Root Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Mentha Piperita Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Essential Oils, Tocopherol
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Urtica Dioica Extract
AstringentSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Sodium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Amaranth Protein
Skin Conditioning
Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Quinoa Protein
Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Citrus Paradisi Seed Oil
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGeraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Myrcene
Perfuming
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Sodium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Amaranth Protein, Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Quinoa Protein, Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Bakuchiol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Beta-Sitosterol, Citrus Paradisi Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Geraniol, Linalool, Limonene, Citral, Myrcene
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arctium Lappa Root Extract is from the burdock plant. It is a botanical extract with skin conditioning and soothing properties.
Burdock root contains polyphenols that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. This can help explain why it's used to calm irritated or red skin.
Evidence in humans is limited to the non-root parts of this plant; topical arctium fruit extract showed improvements in dermal extracellular matrix metabolism and visible wrinkles.
Learn more about Arctium Lappa Root ExtractYou may know this ingredient as argan oil. It has emollient and skin conditioning properties that help soften skin and reinforce the lipid barrier.
The fatty acid profile of argan oil is roughly 45-55% oleic acid, 28-36% linoleic acid, 10-15% palmitic acid, and 5-7% stearic acid. It also contains vitamin E, sterols, squalene, and polyphenols like ferulic acid.
Two clinical studies in postmenopausal women found that applying argan oil for 60 days significantly improved skin elasticity and moisturization (reduced transepidermal water loss and increased epidermal water content).
Since it is high in oleic and linoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Both of these fall in the C11-C24 range that Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Argania Spinosa Kernel OilThis ingredient is also known as olive oil. It has been used in skincare for centuries and science largely backs up its reputation as a nourishing emollient.
The main components of olive oil are oleic acid (55-83%), linoleic acid (3.5-20%), and palmitic acid (7-20%). Oleic acid promotes skin regeneration and helps regulate inflammatory responses.
Squalene is also naturally present in olive oil and exhibits moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
The polyphenols in olive oil also show anti-aging promise; one clinical study found a measurable improvement in skin appearance after 30 days of topical serum use.
Just be aware that applying olive oil directly to skin can weaken the barrier and cause redness. One study with volunteers found even people without sensitive skin experienced a significant reduction in stratum corneum integrity and induced mild erythema.
It's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted formula (instead of putting it on skin directly from the bottle).
Because it has a 2-3 on the comedogenic scale, it is a moderate risk for acne-prone skin. However, the overall formulation of a product matters more than a few ingredients with comedogenic ratings.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because of the oleic and palmitic acid content. These fall within the C11-24 fatty acid range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize to grow.
Overall, olive oil is a well-studied and nourishing skincare ingredient.
Learn more about Olea Europaea Fruit 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 ExtractSalix Alba Bark Extract comes from the bark of the white willow tree. The official CosIng listing states this ingredient to have astringent, skin conditioning, soothing, and tonic properties.
Its star compound is salicin, a natural glucoside that is chemically related to salicylic acid. That's why you'll often see it marketed as a "natural BHA alternative" but that's a bit of a stretch.
Your skin can't convert salicin to salicylic acid because it needs specific enzymes that aren't present on the skin's surface. It won't behave like true salicylic acid, especially at the concentrations used in cosmetics.
However, this ingredient has its own perks. It contains flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins that give it proven antioxidant and soothing properties.
An 8-week clinical study found a cream with 2% of this extract improved skin microcirculation, elasticity, and dark circles. This is most likely due to its role in increasing hyaluronic acid synthesis in fibroblasts and improved vascular integrity.
Another study found a topical serum with 0.5% salicin showed improvements in visible signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, and texture.
Just be careful if you have a known aspirin/salicylate allergy and be sure to consult with a medical professional about using this ingredient if you do.
Fun fact: Willow Bark extract has been used for thousands of years and ancient civilizations used white willow to help treat pain and fevers.
Learn more about Salix Alba Bark ExtractSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract can be good for oily skin.
Jojoba 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.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilThis ingredient is more commonly known as nettle extract. It has soothing, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties.
The antimicrobial properties of nettle come from its gallic acid content.
