This brightening ampoule is formulated around Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Sh-Oligopeptide-1 to soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin ConditioningDiphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Vinyldimethicone
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Betaine
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantTriethylhexanoin
MaskingOriganum Majorana Leaf Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantLecithin
Emollient
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Glutathione
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingLinolenic Acid
Cleansing
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Choleth-24
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Steareth-20
CleansingTuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Chitosan
Citric Acid
Buffering
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Vinyldimethicone, Niacinamide, Betaine, Propanediol, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Tranexamic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Tromethamine, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Triethylhexanoin, Origanum Majorana Leaf Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Limonene, Alcohol, Allantoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Phytate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Lecithin, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Glutathione, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Linalool, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Linolenic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Alpha-Arbutin, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Choleth-24, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Steareth-20, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Sodium Citrate, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Dipeptide-2, Potassium Sorbate, Chitosan, Citric Acid, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Lecithin
Emollient
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Reviews
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about Lecithinsh-Oligopeptide-1 is a peptide found naturally in our bodies. Peptides are the building blocks for collagen and elastin in our skin.
In cosmetics, this ingredient is bioengineered to be identical to a human gene that codes for epidermal growth factor (EGF). EGF are signal molecules that simulate cell growth and healing.
Studies find EGF help with:
In South Korea and China, EGF is considered a controversial ingredient. The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has cracked down on companies with products including EGF due to false advertisement claims.
According to Dr. Zoe Draelos, growth factors have some drawbacks:
There is also controversy surrounding growth factors. The controversy is due to their mitogenic activity, or their ability to increase the number of cells. It is best to avoid using growth factors if you have psoriasis or are at risk of skin cancer. However, it should be noted EGF are not mutagenic - meaning they will not cause cancer.
Learn more about Sh-Oligopeptide-1Water. 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
