What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Laurate
EmulsifyingNicotinamide Mononucleotide
AntioxidantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingPrunella Vulgaris Extract
AntioxidantOpuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantOctyldodecanol
EmollientAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Dna, Arginine, Carbomer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Adenosine, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Sodium Phytate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Prunella Vulgaris Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Disodium EDTA, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ascorbic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Octyldodecanol, Astaxanthin
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTrehalose
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAllantoin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGellan Gum
Agar
MaskingSodium Phytate
Ubiquinone
AntioxidantAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Unshiu Peel Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Powder
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCitrus Junos Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSalmon Egg Extract
Bacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPullulan
Naringin
Skin ProtectingWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Trehalose, Panthenol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Dna, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Adenosine, Gellan Gum, Agar, Sodium Phytate, Ubiquinone, Astaxanthin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Powder, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Junos Peel Extract, Xanthan Gum, Salmon Egg Extract, Bacillus Ferment, Pullulan, Naringin
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineArginine 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 ArginineAstaxanthin is a carotene pigment and red pigment. It is a promising antioxidant with a ton of skin benefits.
This antioxidant has great anti-aging benefits by blocking the following:
Astaxanthin is also great at soothing skin due to its ability to block molecules that signal inflammation. It is currently being studied for preventing chronic inflammatory diseases.
Plus, a study from 2012 found Astaxanthin in liposomes protected mouse skin from UV-damage.
Fun fact: Astaxanthin is responsible for giving salmon a pink color.
Learn more about AstaxanthinButylene 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 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 NiacinamideSodium DNA is an emerging anti-aging ingredient.
It is created by taking deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and purifying it with sodium hydroxide.
The DNA is extracted from several different animal sources, including: calf thymus, the gonadic tissue of a male sturgeon, or herring / salmon sperm.
You have probably seen this ingredient in anti-aging skincare. But what is it?
DNA is composed of nucleotides, or chemical building blocks. Nucleotides include adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). Talk about a flashback to biology! Nucleosides are formed from these nucleotides.
The science behind Sodium DNA is based on an ingredient called Polydeoxyribonucleotide or PDRN.
PDRN are DNA fragments mainly extracted from the sperm cells of trout or salmon. Meaning, PDRN can be derived from Sodium DNA.
PDRN consists of chains of nucleotides and nucleosides mentioned above. They can range anywhere from 80 - 2000 pairs.
Studies show PDRN has the following properties:
Most of the research on PDRN has been done using injectable forms. That’s important, because PDRN is a large molecule and doesn’t absorb well through the skin. So if you’re applying it topically, the effects are likely to be much milder.
Still, topical Sodium DNA is emerging as a trendy anti-aging ingredient. It’s generally well-tolerated and offers good biocompatibility with human skin, making it a low-risk addition to most routines.
Further studies are needed to truly confirm this ingredients anti-aging ability (Remember, retinol has decades of research!).
Sodium DNA may be sourced from fish, animal tissue, or plants. Since this isn’t always disclosed, we recommend asking the brand directly if the ingredient’s origin is important to you.
Learn more about Sodium DnaSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Water. 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