What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Silybum Marianum Ethyl Ester
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Coffea Arabica Seed Oil
Masking
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientTerminalia Arjuna Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract
AntiseborrhoeicCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Silybum Marianum Ethyl Ester, Cetearyl Olivate, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Terminalia Arjuna Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oleic Acid, Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Alternatives
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 TriglycerideThis 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 rosehip seed oil. It helps smooth skin, soften rough patches, and support a healthy moisture barrier as an emollient.
Rosehip seed oil is one of the more polyunsaturated plant oils in cosmetics; it's loaded with fatty acids like linoleic acid (~44%), alpha-linoleic acid (~34%), and oleic acid (~14).
Another interesting compound that makes it stand out from other oils is the trace amount of all-trans retinoic acid (the same molecule as prescription tretinoin), along with some carotenoids and tocopherols.
The linoleic acid is a precursor to ceramide 1, one of the essential lipids in the stratum corneum. Topical linoleic acid application has been shown to improve barrier function and reduce comedone size in clinical studies.
One study found that linoleic acid and alpha-linoleic acid lighten UV-induced hyperpigmentation. A 2015 study found that participants who used rosehip twice daily for eight weeks saw improvements in crow's feet, skin moisture, and skin elasticity compared to the placebo.
If you're hoping to get tretinoin benefits from this ingredient, it's worth noting the trans-retinoid acid is trace-level and minimal compared to the amount of retinol or tretinoin found in formulas.
A 2024 review highlighted the fatty acid composition in rosehip-based dermatological products for:
Typical usage rates range from 1-100% with 5-10% being the most common in moisturizers.
Since the oil is high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, it's prone to oxidation. Look for formulations stabilized with ingredients like vitamin E and be sure to store away from light/heat.
Fungal acne: This oil is not considered fungal acne safe because dominant fatty acids fall into the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Rosa Rubiginosa 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
