This anti-aging serum is formulated around Bakuchiol and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
This calming serum is formulated around Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Panthenol to calm redness and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBakuchiol
AntimicrobialNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPsoralea Corylifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingArtemisia Vulgaris Oil
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingRibes Nigrum Leaf Extract
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bakuchiol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Psoralea Corylifolia Fruit Extract, Carbomer, Arginine, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Ribes Nigrum Leaf Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water 50%
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Root Extract
PerfumingCamellia Sinensis Seed Extract
HumectantBetaine
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientMadecassoside
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water 50%, Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Betaine, Panthenol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Cellulose Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Madecassoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Propanediol
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
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 Water