This hydrating serum is formulated around Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract and Polyglutamic Acid to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract and Ubiquinone to soften the look of wrinkles and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCorchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
EmulsifyingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantCholesterol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentLactic Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
ChelatingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Arginine, Panthenol, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglutamic Acid, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Betaine, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Stearic Acid, Oleic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Lactic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Isoamyl Laurate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSilica Silylate
EmollientPentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil
EmollientPseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate
HumectantSpilanthes Acmella Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
EmollientCurcuma Longa Root Extract
AntioxidantMelia Azadirachta Leaf
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Bark Extract
AntimicrobialMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylcellulose
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientLavandula Spica Flower Oil
MaskingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingHydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantWater
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantGeraniol
PerfumingIsoamyl Laurate, Octyldodecanol, Isohexadecane, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Silica Silylate, Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil, Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate, Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Melia Azadirachta Bark Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ethylcellulose, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Lavandula Spica Flower Oil, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Ubiquinone, Water, Linalool, Limonene, Tocopherol, Geraniol
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 TriglycerideHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneWater. 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