This smoothing serum is formulated around Squalane to refine skin texture and soften the look of wrinkles.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinol and Salicylic Acid 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 ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingIsododecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil
EmollientDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeSucrose Laurate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Glycerin, Polysorbate 80, Polysorbate 20, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Sucrose Laurate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
AntioxidantStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Benzyl Alcohol
PerfumingJojoba Esters
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantBHT
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
SolventPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingRetinol
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingClimbazole
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lactate
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbic Acid
PreservativeDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Phosphate
BufferingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientBHA
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Polysorbate 80, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Bisabolol, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Butylene Glycol, BHT, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Propanediol, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Salicylic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Climbazole, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, Carbomer, Sorbic Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phosphate, Saccharide Isomerate, Glyceryl Caprylate, BHA, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Polysorbate 80 is a synthetic surfactant and emulsifier derived from sorbitol and oleic acid.
It reduces the surface tension between oil and water phases to help them stay mixed and stable in a formulation. In other words, it prevents your formulas from separating into an oily mess.
The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the scientific data and found this ingredient to be safe, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing at concentrations up to 5% (it's even approved by the FDA as an OTC eye drop ingredient).
Learn more about Polysorbate 80Water. 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