This calming moisturizer is formulated around Panthenol and Ceramide NP to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Squalane to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Houttuynia Cordata Flower/Leaf/Stem Water
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientVinyldimethicone
Cetearyl Olivate
Vegetable Oil
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHouttuynia Cordata Flower/Leaf/Stem Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Hydrogenated Polydecene, Dicaprylyl Ether, Vinyldimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Vegetable Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dipropylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventCetyl Esters
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMineral Salts
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
ChelatingVitreoscilla Ferment
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAcacia Decurrens Flower Cera
EmollientAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Cera
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Isohexadecane
EmollientPolyglycerin-3
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Cetyl Esters, Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Squalane, Behenyl Alcohol, Adenosine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Mineral Salts, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Tocopherol, Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Isohexadecane, Polyglycerin-3, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sorbitan Oleate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AdenosineBehenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholDicaprylyl Ether is created from caprylic acid. It is a texture-enhancer and emollient.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Ether is non-comedogenic. It helps soften and smooth the skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier helps trap moisture in, helping to hydrate the skin.
Dicaprylyl Ether gives a non-greasy feel and better spreadability to products.
Learn more about Dicaprylyl EtherGlycerin (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 Tocopherol