What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantPolyglycerin-3
HumectantBoron Nitride
AbsorbentAframomum Angustifolium Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Flower Extract
MaskingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningSecale Cereale Seed Extract
AbrasiveAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Tocopheryl Phosphate
AntioxidantPalmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialXylitol
HumectantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Surfactin
CleansingPyrus Cydonia Seed Extract
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingBiosaccharide Gum-2
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTrehalose
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Diglycerin, Polyglycerin-3, Boron Nitride, Aframomum Angustifolium Seed Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Adenosine, Sodium Tocopheryl Phosphate, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Alcohol, Xylitol, Chlorphenesin, Parfum, Hydroxyacetophenone, CI 77891, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Surfactin, Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Biosaccharide Gum-2, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Potassium Sorbate, Trehalose, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Mica, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDimethicone
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientEscin
TonicTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylamide
Chlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantLaureth-7
EmulsifyingWater, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Escin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Adenosine, Caffeine, Polyacrylamide, Chlorphenesin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Dimethiconol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, BHT, Laureth-7
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AdenosineChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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