What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Urea
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Glycine
Buffering
Rose Extract
Skin ConditioningMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Polyglycerin-6
HumectantParfum
Masking
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Polyglycerin-10
HumectantCocoglycerides
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Glucose
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Urea, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Glycine, Rose Extract, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Lactic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polyglycerin-6, Parfum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Behenyl Alcohol, Chlorphenesin, Polyglycerin-10, Cocoglycerides, Xanthan Gum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, CI 77891, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Glucose, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, CI 77491, Tocopherol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tin Oxide, Glycine Soja Oil, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Palmitate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Phytosteryl Isostearyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Diglycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientVinyldimethicone
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Glycerin
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Surfactin
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingIsopentyldiol
Humectant
Dextrin
AbsorbentDextran
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Phytosteryl Isostearyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dicaprylyl Ether, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Pentylene Glycol, Synthetic Beeswax, Diglycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Vinyldimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Glycerin, Allantoin, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Adenosine, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Surfactin, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Isopentyldiol, Dextrin, Dextran, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, CI 19140, CI 42090
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 AdenosineThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDicaprylyl Ether is created from caprylic acid. It is a texture-enhancer and emollient.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Ether is non-comedogenic. It helps soften and smooth the skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier helps trap moisture in, helping to hydrate the skin.
Dicaprylyl Ether gives a non-greasy feel and better spreadability to products.
Learn more about Dicaprylyl EtherGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
