What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Acer Rubrum Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPicea Mariana Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Betula Alleghaniensis Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Banksiana Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIsomalt
HumectantTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Pentylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Tocopherol, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract, Bisabolol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Acer Rubrum Bark Extract, Picea Mariana Bark Extract, Betula Alleghaniensis Bark Extract, Pinus Banksiana Bark Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Isomalt, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Lecithin, Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hypericum Perforatum Oil
Emollient
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water
Masking
Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentRosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Isomalt
HumectantAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Gardenia Jasminoides Meristem Cell Culture
Antioxidant
Echinacea Angustifolia Extract
MoisturisingMarrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ProtectingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Argania Spinosa Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Persea Gratissima Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Laurate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sodium Levulinate, Citric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Hypericum Perforatum Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Isomalt, Alcohol, Gardenia Jasminoides Meristem Cell Culture, Echinacea Angustifolia Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Phospholipids, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hyaluronic Acid, Argania Spinosa Callus Culture Extract, Lecithin, Ubiquinone, Sodium Benzoate
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 OilGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateWe don't have a description for Isomalt yet.
Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
