What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide
Antioxidant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Pinus Strobus Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Isopentyldiol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Tocopherol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Octyldodeceth-16, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Pinus Strobus Bark Extract, Hexapeptide-9, Maltodextrin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (also known as Argireline) is a synthetic hexapeptide that is often called a "topical Botox alternative".
It works by mimicking how Botox relaxes muscles; it interferes with the signaling process that tells your facial muscles to contract. This can help soften expression lines like forehead wrinkles or crow's feet over time.
The comparison to Botox does have limits because the molecule is water-loving and relatively large.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 has a hard time absorbing deeply enough through the skin's outer barrier to actually reach the muscles.
So whether it truly works the way Botox does at a biological level is still up for debate, but early clinical outcomes are fairly encouraging.
A 12 week human study of a multi-ingredient regimen containing this ingredient saw:
While some studies have observed improvements in wrinkle appearance, it is important to note that more consistent results are seen in multi-ingredient formulations (vs just Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 alone).
Some research studies also used higher concentrations (up to 10%) while this ingredient is usually found in concentrations up to 0.005% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about Acetyl Hexapeptide-8Butylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
