What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC9-12 Alkane
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Sinensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Whey Protein
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract
Astringent
Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingSilybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientHydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Sucrose
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingIsoceteth-20
EmulsifyingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
C12-15 Alkyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPolyethylene
Abrasive
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, C9-12 Alkane, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Glycerin, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, PEG-40 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Isododecane, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Hibiscus Sinensis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Whey Protein, Algae Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Caffeine, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Carbomer, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sorbitan Stearate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Sucrose, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Sodium Hydroxide, Isoceteth-20, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, C12-15 Alkyl Ethylhexanoate, Polyethylene, Hydroxyacetophenone, Triheptanoin, Parfum, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientC10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Collagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Methionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingOriganum Majorana Leaf Extract
AntiseborrhoeicMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polydecene, C10-18 Triglycerides, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside, Collagen Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Dipeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Nonapeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Serine, Methionine, Cysteine, Arginine, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polyglutamic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Glucoside, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Panax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Stearate, Carbomer, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glucose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tropolone, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (also known as Argireline) is a synthetic hexapeptide that is often called a "topical Botox alternative".
It works by mimicking how Botox relaxes muscles; it interferes with the signaling process that tells your facial muscles to contract. This can help soften expression lines like forehead wrinkles or crow's feet over time.
The comparison to Botox does have limits because the molecule is water-loving and relatively large.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 has a hard time absorbing deeply enough through the skin's outer barrier to actually reach the muscles.
So whether it truly works the way Botox does at a biological level is still up for debate, but early clinical outcomes are fairly encouraging.
A 12 week human study of a multi-ingredient regimen containing this ingredient saw:
While some studies have observed improvements in wrinkle appearance, it is important to note that more consistent results are seen in multi-ingredient formulations (vs just Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 alone).
Some research studies also used higher concentrations (up to 10%) while this ingredient is usually found in concentrations up to 0.005% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about Acetyl Hexapeptide-8Butylene 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 GlycolCarbomer 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 CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSorbitan Stearate is an emulsifier made by reacting sorbitol with stearic acid.
It's mostly used to keep oil and water mixed so your formulas stay smooth and stable.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has found 4% of this ingredient in repeat-insult patch tests on humans to be non-sensitizing. There is a caveat that some reactions have shown up in patients with damaged or diseased skin.
Because it is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it falls into the C11-24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize. This means this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan StearateWater. 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
