What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Collagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Chondrus Crispus
Masking
Calcium Chloride
AstringentAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Potassium Chloride
Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Trehalose
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Collagen Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Chondrus Crispus, Calcium Chloride, Allantoin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Potassium Chloride, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Cellulose Gum, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Trehalose, Sucrose, Caprylyl Glycol, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Zea Mays Kernel Extract
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Fructan
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Dna
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentTripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGallic Acid
Antioxidant
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Xylose
HumectantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Trehalose, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Sodium Dna, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Hyaluronic Acid, Fructan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucose, Ascorbic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Dna, Saccharide Isomerate, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Tripeptide-1, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Alcohol Denat., Caffeine, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pantothenic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Gallic Acid, Phosphatidylcholine, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Polyglutamic Acid, Xylose
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 in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineCaffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.
As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.
Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.
You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.
Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.
Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.
Learn more about CaffeineEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
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 PropanediolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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
