Elemis Superfood Facial Oil Versus Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil

Elemis Superfood Facial Oil Versus Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil

This hydrating oil is formulated around Rosa Canina Fruit Oil and Squalane to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.

This brightening oil is formulated around Squalane and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to brighten dull-looking skin and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil

Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil

Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil

Oryza Sativa Bran Oil

Papaver Orientale Seed Oil

Rosa Canina Fruit Oil

Squalane

Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract

Cucumis Sativus Oil

Brassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil

Parfum

Limonene

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil

Cymbopogon Martini Oil

Geraniol

Linalool

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil

Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil

Tocopherol

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Benzyl Benzoate

Farnesol

Citral

Benzyl Salicylate

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Papaver Orientale Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Squalane, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Cucumis Sativus Oil, Brassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil, Parfum, Limonene, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Geraniol, Linalool, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Benzyl Benzoate, Farnesol, Citral, Benzyl Salicylate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Pistacia Lentiscus Gum

Rosa Damascena Flower Extract

Citronellol

Squalane, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Geraniol, Citronellol

Reviews

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%.

Geraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.

Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.

Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.

Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.

Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.

Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.

2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-

Squalane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).

It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.

This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.

Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.

Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.

No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).

Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.

This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.

Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.

Read more about squalene with an "e".

Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.

The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.

Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.

A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.

The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.

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