This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier.
This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantTripropylene Glycol
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglycerin-3
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNicotinamide Mononucleotide
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium DNA
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningOleic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingGlycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCholesterol
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
ChelatingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Phytate
ChelatingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
ChelatingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Tripropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Polyglycerin-3, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, 1,2-Hexanediol, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, Ceramide NP, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tocopherol, Sodium DNA, Phytosphingosine, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Oleic Acid, Stearic Acid, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cholesterol, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles
DNA
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningDisodium Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningHistidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingThreonine
Serine
MaskingValine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
HumectantLeucine
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingTaurine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
MaskingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingCalcium Pantothenate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Lactobacillus Ferment, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles, DNA, Punica Granatum Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Oligopeptide-1, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lysine Hcl, Proline, Histidine Hcl, Arginine, Threonine, Serine, Valine, Alanine, Panthenol, Glutamic Acid, Leucine, Glycine, Taurine, Allantoin, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Magnesium Aspartate, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Calcium Pantothenate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate
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
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineButylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideWater. 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