What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-32
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingZea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Mannitol
Humectant
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningArachis Hypogaea Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCeratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract
MaskingLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Angularis Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Vulgaris Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium EDTA
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-32, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Zea Mays Starch, Mannitol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Arachis Hypogaea Fruit Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Phaseolus Angularis Seed Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Phaseolus Vulgaris Seed Extract, Maltodextrin, Adenosine, Potassium Hydroxide, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Caramel, Disodium EDTA, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCutibacterium Granulosum Ferment Extract Filtrate
EmollientCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Physalis Alkekengi Calyx Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Algin
Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment
Skin ConditioningEpigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Benzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantAsiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Carbomer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Cutibacterium Granulosum Ferment Extract Filtrate, Caffeine, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Physalis Alkekengi Calyx Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Potassium Hyaluronate
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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinSodium 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
