Every ingredient we use is here, what it is, where it comes from, what it actually does for your skin, and whether it is likely to clog pores. Use the list to check something before you buy it, or to work out why a product is doing what it is doing.
If you are looking for one ingredient in particular, the list runs alphabetically below.
Which of These Clog Pores?
This is the question most people arrive with, so here is the answer first.
Six of our ingredients are recognised as non-comedogenic, meaning they are not expected to block pores:
- Kōakaheart Oil, our signature botanical
- Squalane
- Jojoba Oil
- Sunflower Oil
- Evening Primrose Oil
- Coco-Caprylate, a light coconut-derived emollient
Those six are the reason our formulas suit acne-prone and congestion-prone skin. If you are shopping specifically to avoid breakouts, they are the names to look for on the label.
For the longer version, we have a full guide to non-comedogenic skincare and why it matters for acne-prone skin.
The Ingredients, A to Z
Aloe Vera
A succulent used on skin for centuries. A natural moisturiser that is genuinely hydrating, and well suited to dry or sensitive skin. Carries vitamins and minerals, and its anti-inflammatory properties help calm redness and swelling, which is why it turns up in aftersun and in products aimed at eczema or psoriasis-prone skin. Also supports collagen production, so it has a role in softening the look of scarring and fine lines, and its antibacterial action helps with blemishes.
In our range: Hydrating Gel Toner.
Alaria Esculenta (Seaweed Extract)
A marine extract that hydrates deeply and helps protect against environmental stress, while supporting skin elasticity and tone. Full write-up here.
Apple Fruit Extract
A gentle source of natural acids and antioxidants. Full write-up here.
Calendula Flower Extract
Calendula officinalis, often sold as marigold. Used in traditional medicine and skincare for centuries. Its flavonoids and triterpene saponins are anti-inflammatory, which makes it a calming ingredient for skin that is reactive or irritated.
In our range: MiracleFirm Smoothing Serum.
Cetearyl Olivate
Usually listed simply as "olive" on a label, though it is more than that. A natural emulsifier made from olive oil and cetearyl alcohol, so it holds the water and oil parts of a formula together. Gentle, and it conditions the skin while it works rather than just doing a technical job.
Coco-Caprylate
Also listed as C8-18 Triglycerides, derived from coconut oil. Clear, lightweight, silky and non-greasy, and it absorbs quickly. It has a low comedogenic rating, so it is unlikely to clog pores, which is one reason it suits most skin types. Full write-up here.
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil (Blue Gum)
From the blue gum tree, so you will see it on labels under either name. Rich in antioxidants that help neutralise free radicals. It is also naturally antiseptic and antibacterial, which helps keep pores clear and skin comfortable, and it calms visible redness.
In our range: MiracleFirm Smoothing Serum.
Evening Primrose Oil (EPO)
Pressed from evening primrose seeds. Non-comedogenic, so it will not clog pores. There is evidence for its ability to help clear acne and reduce inflammation, and applied topically it can ease the symptoms of eczema. It contains linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid, both omega-6 fatty acids. GLA promotes cell turnover and repair, and supports collagen production. It also helps skin hold moisture by reducing water loss and supporting the barrier.
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
From one of the oldest living tree species on the planet, sometimes called the maidenhair tree. A potent antioxidant with a long history in traditional medicine.
In our range: MiracleFirm Smoothing Serum.
Grapefruit Peel Oil
Pressed from grapefruit peel. High in antioxidants including vitamin C, which help neutralise free radicals and protect against oxidative stress. It also carries a bright, uplifting scent, so it does aromatic work as well as skincare work.
Grapeseed Oil
A by-product of winemaking, and ours comes from Marlborough. Packed with proanthocyanidins and vitamin E, which protect against free radicals and environmental stress. A light, effective moisturiser that does not sit heavily on the skin.
In our range: SkinTonic Face Oil.
Green Tea Extract
Rich in catechins and polyphenols, antioxidants that neutralise the free radicals behind fine lines and age spots. Anti-inflammatory, so it calms the skin, and it may help improve elasticity.
In our range: Hydrating Gel Toner.
Hyaluronic Acid
Best known for pulling moisture into the skin, which is what keeps it looking plump. Studies have linked it to smoother, firmer skin and improved elasticity, which is why it appears in so many products aimed at fine lines. Lightweight, and it suits every skin type.
In our range: Hydrating Gel Toner.
Jojoba Oil
From the seeds of the jojoba plant, native to North America. Non-comedogenic, and it closely mimics the skin's own sebum, which is why it absorbs so well and suits oily and acne-prone skin as readily as dry skin. Carries vitamin E, B-complex vitamins, zinc, copper, selenium and iodine, along with fatty acids that moisturise and protect.
In our range: SkinTonic Face Oil.
Kakadu Plum
A small fruit from Northern Australia, and the richest natural source of vitamin C of any food in the world. That vitamin C hydrates, brightens, fades hyperpigmentation, and supports collagen production and cell turnover. It is also anti-inflammatory, so it helps calm redness, and it strengthens capillaries.
In our range: Brightening Face The Day Crème.
Kawakawa
A New Zealand native with soothing, antioxidant-rich properties. Full write-up here.
Kiwifruit Extract
Ours is from Te Puke. A strong dose of vitamin C, which brightens and shields against pollution and UV, alongside other vitamins and antioxidants.
In our range: Hydrating Gel Toner.
Kōakaheart Oil
Our signature botanical, organically grown in New Zealand. Rich in essential fatty acids, and naturally lightweight and non-comedogenic, which makes it suitable for acne-prone and sensitive skin. It calms, balances and replenishes without clogging pores. More on why we grow it.
Lemon Peel Oil
Gently exfoliating and brightening. Full write-up here.
Macadamia Nut Oil
From the nut of the macadamia tree. Rich in oleic, palmitoleic and linoleic acids, which mimic the skin's own oils closely enough to absorb easily and prevent moisture loss. Its high palmitoleic acid content makes it a good emollient, softening and soothing, and it supports the skin barrier.
Mānuka
Botanically the same plant as tea tree, which surprises most people. Full write-up here.
NZ Black Fern (Mamaku)
A New Zealand native used in our night care. Full write-up here.
Red Seaweed (New Zealand Native)
A native marine extract whose red pigment is a potent antioxidant. Full write-up here.
Rose Geranium
Pelargonium graveolens, a flowering plant native to South Africa with a delicate floral scent and citrus undertones. Its notable property is balancing the skin's natural oil production, whichever direction your skin leans.
Sesame Oil
The same oil you cook with, and used in traditional medicine for centuries. A natural emollient, so it locks moisture in, which suits dry or sensitive skin and helps calm irritation. High in antioxidants including vitamin E.
Squalane
A natural moisturising factor that occurs in the human body as well as in plants. A highly effective emollient that locks in moisture and prevents water loss, with a light texture that absorbs quickly. Non-comedogenic, so it suits all skin types including oily.
St John's Wort
Hypericum perforatum, a yellow-flowered perennial native to Europe, Asia and North Africa. Better known for its mood-balancing reputation, but its flavonoids are anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, which is what it is doing in skincare.
Sunflower Oil
Light, non-greasy and easily absorbed, and non-comedogenic. Rich in vitamin E, and its linoleic acid helps maintain the skin's natural barrier and prevent moisture loss. Its oleic, palmitic and stearic acids help reduce inflammation and irritation. Also a natural source of ceramides.
Sweet Almond Oil
Extracted from the seeds of the almond tree and used in beauty remedies for centuries. High in fatty acids, so it penetrates deeply to nourish and hydrate, and it is particularly good for dry and sensitive skin because it locks moisture in.
In our range: SkinTonic Face Oil.
Vitamin C
Brightens, evens tone, and supports collagen production. It works partly by inhibiting melanin production, which is what causes dark spots and hyperpigmentation. We use it in natural form rather than synthesised, mostly via Kakadu plum and kiwifruit.
Vitamin E
A fat-soluble antioxidant that protects skin cells from free radical damage caused by pollution, UV and stress. It also helps combat dryness. Occurs naturally in several of the plant oils above, including sunflower, sesame and grapeseed.
Common Questions
Q: Can natural oils be non-comedogenic?
A: Yes. Kōakaheart, jojoba, squalane, sunflower and evening primrose oils are all recognised as non-comedogenic, and several are actively good for acne-prone skin.
Q: Is "non-comedogenic" a regulated term?
A: No. Any brand can use it. That is exactly why reading the ingredient list matters more than reading the front of the bottle.
Every Hark & Zander formula is built from these ingredients and nothing else. If you want to see how they come together, browse the full range.
