What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Lactobacillus/Kelp Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Erythritol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Gellan Gum
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCalcium Chloride
AstringentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSea Water
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Jania Rubens Extract
Skin ConditioningKjellmaniella Gyrata Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Spirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingLactobacillus/Kelp Ferment Filtrate, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water, Xylitol, Erythritol, Glycerin, Gellan Gum, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sea Water, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tocopherol, Saccharide Isomerate, Jania Rubens Extract, Kjellmaniella Gyrata Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMethylpropanediol
SolventTromethamine
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPorphyra Yezoensis Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Potentilla Anserina Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Sodium DNA
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Distearate
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingCollagen
Moisturising
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Codium Fragile Extract
Skin ConditioningCaulerpa Lentillifera Extract
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Carbomer, Methylpropanediol, Tromethamine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Porphyra Yezoensis Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Potentilla Anserina Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Beta-Glucan, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Sodium DNA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Allantoin, Squalane, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sucrose Distearate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Collagen, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Codium Fragile Extract, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Tocopherol 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
