What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyglycerin-3
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructan
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSaponins
CleansingSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin ConditioningDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningPentapeptide-3
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate
EmulsifyingMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningElaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingAlgin
MaskingBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantSucrose
HumectantSodium Phosphate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMineral Salts
Skin ConditioningDextran
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingParfum
MaskingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Water, Isopentyldiol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglycerin-3, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructan, Inulin, Panthenol, Betaine, Beta-Glucan, Adenosine, Saponins, Soluble Proteoglycan, Nonapeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Pentapeptide-3, Hexapeptide-9, Oligopeptide-2, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Malt Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Maltodextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Algin, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Cyanocobalamin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Sucrose, Sodium Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Mineral Salts, Dextran, Disodium Phosphate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide 10%
SmoothingTripropylene Glycol
AntioxidantTranexamic Acid 2%
AstringentCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingUbiquinone
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMadecassoside
AntioxidantHydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPeat Water
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingChlorella Ferment
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArbutin
AntioxidantGlutathione
Kojic Acid
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium DNA
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide 10%, Tripropylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid 2%, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Panthenol, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Arginine, Acacia Senegal Gum, Ubiquinone, Xanthan Gum, Madecassoside, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Decyl Glucoside, Peat Water, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, C12-14 Alketh-12, Chlorella Ferment, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arbutin, Glutathione, Kojic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium DNA
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 GlycolCaprylic/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 TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum