What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Isododecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialInula Crithmoide Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAminopropyl Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantMethyl Palmitate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingParfum
MaskingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingIsododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Water, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Inula Crithmoide Flower/Leaf Extract, Ceramide Ng, Tocopherol, Aminopropyl Phenyl Trimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Methyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate
Dimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientDisiloxane
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientAminopropyl Dimethicone
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientHexyldecanol
EmollientParfum
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientTripeptide-13
Skin ConditioningDimethicone, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethiconol, Disiloxane, Dicaprylyl Ether, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hexyldecanol, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Citronellol, Tocopherol, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Tripeptide-13
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 OilDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumJojoba 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