What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRuscus Aculeatus Root Extract
Astringent
Helianthus Annuus Petal Extract
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Petal Extract, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSucrose Laurate
Emollient
Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glycerin, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Beeswax, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sucrose Laurate
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 called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholGlyceryl Stearate Se is a self-emulsifying (SE) form of glyceryl stearate. Self-emusifying means this ingredient automatically blends with water. It is an emulsifier, emollient, and cleansing agent.
As an emulsifier, Glyceryl Stearate Se prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It is also a surfactant, meaning it helps cleanse the skin. Surfactants help gather oil, dirt, and other pollutants so they may be rinsed away easily.
Emollients help your skin stay smooth and soft. It does so by creating a film on top of the skin that helps trap moisture in.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate SeHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil is the fixed oil obtained from Macadamia nut native to Australia. Due to its similarity with our skin's natural oils, macadamia oil absorbs easily without feeling greasy.
Macadamia seed oil is rich in fatty acids, including oleic acid (45-75%), palmitoleic acid (7-33%), and palmitic acid (6-12%). They also contain various B vitamins, iron, and magnesium.
Palmitoleic acid helps calm inflammation and supports wound healing while oleic acid helps hydrate the skin.
Due to the high amounts of palmitic and oleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. These are fatty acids that Malassezia yeast can feed on (C11-C24 chain length). If you're prone to fungal acne, this one's probably not for you.
You'll also see this ingredient listed as: Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil . This is the same ingredient; 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 OilOlive oil unsaponifiables is the part of the plant that is not used in the process of recovering fatty acids. Squalene is often derived from this ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Jojoba 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.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilWater. 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
