This anti-aging ampoule is formulated around Sodium DNA and Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate and Squalane to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantIsododecane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventSqualane
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Sponge
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
ChelatingSucrose
HumectantDextrin
AbsorbentCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantSodium DNA
Skin ConditioningCyperus Rotundus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSalmon Egg Extract
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingRetinol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Isododecane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-26, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Butylene Glycol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Squalane, Isopropyl Myristate, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Beta-Glucan, Disodium EDTA, Sucrose, Dextrin, Cyanocobalamin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Ceramide NP, Fructooligosaccharides, Sodium DNA, Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract, Salmon Egg Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Sodium Chloride, Retinol, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientEthyl Olivate
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventGlycerin
HumectantTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantJojoba Esters
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyglycerin-3
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Propylene Glycol, Isostearyl Isostearate, Ethyl Olivate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glycerin, Triheptanoin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Bisabolol, Saccharide Isomerate, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Tocopherol, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateSqualane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about SqualaneWater. 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