What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingLecithin
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialGuaiazulene
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantIsopentyldiol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolydecene
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGuaiazulene
AntimicrobialCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-2
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Japonica Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Asiatica Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCupressus Sempervirens Oil
MaskingZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingMadecassoside
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Seed Oil
HumectantCamellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningMentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract
TonicCalamine
AbsorbentMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Capillaris Extract
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAgar
MaskingMannitol
HumectantZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLecithin
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantHydrogen Dimethicone
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Isopentyldiol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polydecene, Adenosine, Guaiazulene, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-2, Hexapeptide-11, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1, Ceramide NP, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Japonica Seed Extract, Artemisia Asiatica Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Propolis Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Oil, Zinc Oxide, Beta-Glucan, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Madecassoside, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Allantoin, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Calamine, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Panthenol, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Octyldodeceth-16, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Cellulose Gum, Phenyl Trimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Agar, Mannitol, Zea Mays Starch, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Disodium EDTA, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lecithin, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hydrogen Dimethicone
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 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 GlycerinGuaiazulene is a fragrance.
Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinWater. 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