Dr. Organic Rose Otto Face Scrub Versus Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Facial Oil

Dr. Organic Rose Otto Face Scrub Versus Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Facial Oil

This exfoliator is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice to hydrate and calm irritation.

This hydrating oil is formulated around Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil and Laminaria Digitata Extract to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Water

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Glycerin

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Pumice

Cetearyl Alcohol

Glyceryl Stearate

Glyceryl Stearate Se

Cera Alba

Rosa Canina Fruit Oil

Rosa Rugosa Flower Water

Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil

Prunus Persica Seed Powder

Rosa Damascena Flower Extract

Passiflora Incarnata Extract

Tilia Europaea Flower Extract

Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Cetearyl Glucoside

Ascorbic Acid

Parfum

Pelargonium Graveolens Oil

Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil

Rosa Damascena Flower Oil

Xanthan Gum

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Citric Acid

Sodium Benzoate

Potassium Sorbate

Citronellol

Geraniol

Eugenol

Linalool

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pumice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cera Alba, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Rosa Rugosa Flower Water, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Prunus Persica Seed Powder, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Extract, Tilia Europaea Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Cetearyl Glucoside, Ascorbic Acid, Parfum, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Eugenol, Linalool

Isoamyl Cocoate

Coco-Caprylate

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil

Cocos Nucifera Oil

Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides

Laminaria Digitata Extract

Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil

Tocopherol

Benzyl Salicylate

Rose Extract

Salicornia Herbacea Extract

Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract

Rosa Damascena Extract

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isoamyl Cocoate, Coco-Caprylate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Parfum, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citronellol, Geraniol, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Benzyl Salicylate, Rose Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Rosa Damascena Extract

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%.

Citronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".

Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.

Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.

Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,

Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.

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)-

Helianthus 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.

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.

Pelargonium Graveolens Oil is the pressed oil of the Rose Geranium plant. It has perfuming and masking properties.

This ingredient contains citronellol and geraniol. These compounds may cause allergies and skin-sensitivity.

The scent of Rose Geranium closely resembles. you guessed it: roses.

Rosa Canina Fruit Oil is a non-fragrant plant oil that has earned its skincare reputation through chemistry.

It's dominated by fatty acids like linoleic acid (~35-55%), alpha-linolenic acid (~17-27%), and oleic acid (~14-22%). This is the exact profile that supports skin barrier, locks in hydration, and calms inflammation.

A 2024 review found evidence for the Rosa canina species supports its use for scarring, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and atopic dermatitis; this was mostly credited to its vitamin C content and fatty acid composition as the primary active mechanisms.

You might see this ingredient marketed as a "natural retinol". Some rosehip seed oils contains traces of all-trans-retinoic acid but these trace amounts are far below biologically active levels.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel has deemed this ingredient safe and it's well-tolerated.

Fungal acne: The fatty acids of this oil fall into the C11-24 range that Malassezia yeast can metabolize, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.

Rosa Damascena Flower Oil is an essential oil made from the Damask Rose. It is often used as a fragrance in cosmetics.

Rose Oil has antibacterial and antioxidant properties due to its terpene, glycoside, flavonoid, anthocyanin, and Vitamin C content.

Other major parts of Rose Oil include citronellol and geraniol. Both of these are known EU allergens and cause contact-allergies.

The downsides of this ingredient outweight the positives.

Similar Comparisons