What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Cera Alba
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Olus Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Aroma
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Mel Extract
MoisturisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cera Alba, Octyldodecanol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Olus Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Aroma, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Mel Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Propolis Extract
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Cera Alba
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Lanolin
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Oil
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Persea Gratissima Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCannabis Sativa Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cera Alba, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Lanolin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Persea Gratissima Butter, Tocopherol, Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Cannabis Sativa Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCera alba is beeswax, or the wax used by bees to make honeycombs. It is a texture-enhancer and emollient. A study from 2003 found beeswax to be a stronger emollient than ingredients such as petroleum jelly.
As an emollient, beeswax helps hydrate the skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier traps moisture in.
Emulsifiers help prevent ingredients from separating. This helps create consistent texture.
The structure of beeswax is mainly long-chain alcohols and the esters of fatty acids.
There are three types of beeswax: yellow, white, and absolute. Yellow is pure beeswax taken from the honeycomb. White beeswax is created by filtering or bleaching yellow beeswax. Absolute beeswax is created by treating beeswax with alcohol. Beeswax used in cosmetics are purified.
Beeswax has been used throughout history and even in prehistoric times. Some common uses for beeswax still used today are making candles, as a waterproofing agent, and polish for leather.
Beeswax's wax esters are derived primarily from palmitic and oleic acid (C16 and C18:1). Both of these fall within the C11-C24 feeding window.
The Malassezia yeast can potentially cleave these esters and release usable fatty acids, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. However, not everyone will react to this ingredient.
Learn more about Cera AlbaThis ingredient is also known as castor oil. It is a skin conditioning ingredient.
The star component of castor oil is ricinoleic acid, an unusual fatty acid that makes up ~80-92% of its composition.
In skincare, it is an emollient that dries down to a solid film with water-binding properties. This helps keep skin hydrated and helps reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
A 2026 dermatology review pulls together its broader uses:
Human clinical testing found this ingredient to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Because castor oil contains fatty acids in the C11-24 range, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
At this time, the literature does not support castor oil in regrowing hair. A 2022 systematic review found no strong evidence that it supports hair growth and only weak evidence that it improves hair shine.
Castor oil itself carries "perfuming" and "masking" function tags according to the official CosIng database. This is because of its mild odor and odor-dampening properties.
Learn more about Ricinus Communis Seed 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 Oil
