What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
AntimicrobialCaffeine
Skin ConditioningArginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantRetinol
Skin ConditioningCollagen
MoisturisingPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningWater, Bakuchiol, Caffeine, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Retinol, Collagen, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Isononyl Isononanoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Allantoin, Panthenol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Arginine, Glyceryl Glucoside, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingSqualane
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBetaine
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientLactobacillus/Centella Asiatica Extract Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientBakuchiol
AntimicrobialPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Phytate
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningSucrose Distearate
EmollientAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningLauric Acid
CleansingPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Squalane, Water, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Heptyl Undecylenate, Lactobacillus/Centella Asiatica Extract Ferment Filtrate, Glyceryl Stearate, Bakuchiol, Panthenol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Palmitic Acid, Tromethamine, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Phytosphingosine, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Sucrose Distearate, Asiatic Acid, Lauric Acid, Phytosterols, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
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
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, commonly known as Argireline or Acetyl Hexapeptide-3, is a popular peptide in skincare. It’s often referred to as a “Botox-like” ingredient because it helps reduce muscle movement.
By relaxing these micro-movements, Argireline may help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. That said, it’s not as powerful as Botox, and research on its long-term effectiveness is still limited.
Beyond smoothing, Argireline may also support collagen production. Collagen is the protein that helps keep your skin firm, bouncy, and well-hydrated by strengthening the skin barrier.
So while Argireline isn’t a miracle fix, it can be a helpful addition to a routine focused on both prevention and skin health.
Read more about other common types of peptides here:
Learn more about Acetyl Hexapeptide-8Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant. It has antimicrobial, emollient, skin conditioning, and antioxidant properties.
You'll likely see it called a "retinol replacement" but the two are technically not related. This is because bakuchiol is able to flip many of the same switches in your skin cells to tell them to:
1) produce more collagen (type I, III, and IV)
2) activate the same genes retinoids do
Unlike retinoids, this ingredient will not increase photosensitivity and is safe to use during pregnancy (but please still check in with your doctor!).
The flagship clinical trial from Dhaliwal et al. 2019 found 0.5% bakuchiol (twice daily) and 0.5% retinol (once daily) reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation equally, but bakuchiol had significantly less irritation.
Systematic reviews also back this up:
Bakuchiol is comparable to retinol for photoaging but with better tolerability. It also has mild antibacterial properties against Cutibacterium acnes and antifungal activity in vitro against Candida and dermatophytes.
The reason bakuchiol works well is due to its structure; it is a meroterpene phenol, or a hybrid molecule. The phenol half acts as an antioxidant while the terpene half is fat-loving. This helps the molecule slip through the skin barrier.
This ingredient is usually used between 0.5-2%. Only one case of contact dermatitis has ever been reported for this ingredient.
Learn more about BakuchiolButylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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