What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantParfum
MaskingTromethamine
BufferingHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningCarnosine
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C12-14 Pareth-12, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Carbomer, Allantoin, Ethoxydiglycol, Parfum, Tromethamine, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Adenosine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Malt Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Cyanocobalamin, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Carnosine
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPolyglycerin-3
HumectantGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientMannitol
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingMethyl Methacrylate/Acrylonitrile Copolymer
CI 77480
Cosmetic ColorantAureobasidium Pullulans Ferment
Skin ConditioningResveratrol
AntioxidantMagnesium Sulfate
Calcium Chloride
AstringentAcetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningManganese Sulfate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningZinc Sulfate
AntimicrobialAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Polyglycerin-3, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-8, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Polysorbate 20, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Mannitol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Methyl Methacrylate/Acrylonitrile Copolymer, CI 77480, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment, Resveratrol, Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Chloride, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Manganese Sulfate, Tocopherol, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Zinc Sulfate, Ascorbyl Glucoside
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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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