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
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Seed Oil
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Persea Gratissima Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Camellia Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You 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 OilCucurbita Pepo Seed oil comes from the field pumpkin, including winter squash and the traditional orange pumpkin we see in Autumn.
Pumpkin seed oil is rich in vitamin E and plenty of fatty acids such as linoleic acids. Pumpkin seeds also have zinc and cartenoids.
Linoleic acid helps moisturize your skin as an emollient. Emollients act as a thin film to prevent moisture from escaping.
Cartenoids are an antioxidant. Antioxidants protect your skin against external damage. They also give pumpkins their classic orange color.
Fun fact: Pumpkins were first domesticated in Southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago.
Learn more about Cucurbita Pepo Seed OilThis ingredient is also known as Macadamia Seed Oil. It's an emollient with a fatty acid profile that closely mirrors the skin's own lipid makeup.
The palmitoleic acid content is especially notable as it's somewhat rare in plant oils. Palmitoleic acid is something your skin already makes naturally. It helps keep cell membranes structured and plays a role in fighting off harmful microbes.
This palmitoleic content is also part of why macademia seed oil absorbs quickly and doesn't leave much of a greasy residue.
It also contains oleic acid, linoleic acid, and phytosterols that can help reduce redness.
In vitro research has shown the oil to have meaningful antioxidant activity, protect fats in the skin from oxidative damage, and slow down the enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid.
A 2024 clinical study found it effective at improving skin hydratino and reducing wrinkle appearance when formulated into nanoemulsions.
Because it carries oleic acid (C18) and palmitic acid (C16), this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the Malassezia yeast metabolizes in the C11-24 chain length range.
You'll also see this ingredient listed as: Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil .
These two oils are identical in composition and M. ternifolia is an older INCI naming convention for the edible macadamia nut while M. integrifolia is the species actually cultivated for oil production. Both names refer to the same oil.
Learn more about Macadamia Ternifolia Seed OilThis ingredient is also known as black seed oil or black cumin. It has emollient, skin conditioning, and perfuming properties.
It is rich in linoleic and oleic acids, making it a great skin hydrator or emollient. Other compounds found in black seed oil include thymoquinone, sterols, and various terpenes; these compounds give it antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Studies show thymoquinone helps reduce oxidative stress and dampens the inflammatory pathways. Combining this with the oils makes this ingredient great for barrier repair and moisturization.
Other studies have found this ingredient to have antimicrobial activity against several acne-causing bacteria.
Learn more about Nigella Sativa Seed OilThis ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilThis ingredient is also known as sweet almond oil. It is a lightweight, cold-pressed oil from the ripe seeds of the sweet almond tree.
Sweet almond oil is rich in skin-nourishing fatty acids such as oleic acid (55-86%) and linolenic acid (7-35%).
As an emollient, it softens and hydrates skin by forming a thin barrier that locks in moisture.
Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing. The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the available safety data and concluded it is safe for topical use.
Because of the oleic acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis OilJojoba 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 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
