What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMadecassoside
AntioxidantDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
MaskingCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Asiaticoside
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingJuniperus Mexicana Oil
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingLimonene
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCentella Asiatica Leaf Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Water, Glycerin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Propanediol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Madecassoside, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Adenosine, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Disodium EDTA, Asiaticoside, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Madecassic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Limonene, Citral, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingXylitylglucoside
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXylitol
HumectantParfum
MaskingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantPhaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingRetinol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propanediol, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Xylitylglucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Anhydroxylitol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xylitol, Parfum, Adenosine, Glucose, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Soluble Collagen, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, CI 42090, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Retinol, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that your body already makes in every cell. In skincare, it acts mainly as a skin conditioning and anti-aging agent.
The way it works is fairly well mapped out:
Your skin has cells called fibroblasts that build collagen (the stuff that keeps skin firm and smooth). Adenosine basically flips a switch on these cells that tells them to get to work making more collagen and other proteins. These cells slow down on their own as skin ages, so Adenosine helps give them a little nudge to keep going.
The clinical backing is pretty solid too.
A blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 126 women aged 45-65 tested a 0.1% cream twice daily and found real improvements in crow's feet and frown lines using a precise 3D skin-mapping technique; these changes showed up by week 3 and held at 2 months.
A later study using Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches reported gains in wrinkle depth, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration.
On concentrations, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has set 0.04% as the approved functional anti-wrinkle level. You'll typically see this ingredient used somewhere in the 0.04-0.1% range since it works at low doses.
This ingredient has been found safe for cosmetics with the data showing no irritation or sensitization.
Overall, this is a great ingredient for any anti-aging routine and has no photosensitizing effect, so it suits both AM and PM use.
Learn more about AdenosineCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone Crosspolymer is a silicone created by modifying dimethicone with hydrocarbon side chains. Due to its large size, it does not penetrate skin. It is considered non-occlusive.
Dimethicone Crosspolymer is used to stabilize and thicken products. It also helps give products a silky feel.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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 Water