What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingHydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
EmollientMannitol
HumectantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPolymethyl Methacrylate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingThymol Trimethoxycinnamate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingCholesterol
EmollientDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveOleanolic Acid
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Stearic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Mannitol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Carbomer, Thymol Trimethoxycinnamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Tromethamine, Cholesterol, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Silica, Oleanolic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolypropylsilsesquioxane
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearates
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydrolyzed Sponge
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantRetinol 0.1%
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingUndecane
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTridecane
PerfumingDisodium EDTA
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningDipeptide-2
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningWater, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, C14-22 Alcohols, Glyceryl Stearates, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Retinol 0.1%, Allantoin, Arginine, Undecane, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Adenosine, Tridecane, Disodium EDTA, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Myristyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Beta-Carotene, Glucose, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Nonapeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Dipeptide-2, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
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 AdenosineButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum