What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientSilybum Marianum Seed Extract 79.8%
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingMethylpropanediol
SolventSilybum Marianum Fruit Extract 1%
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Dipotassium Phosphate
BufferingAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPimpinella Anisum Fruit Extract
MaskingVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSilybum Marianum Seed Extract 79.8%, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract 1%, Propanediol, Water, Carbomer, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Phosphate, Acetyl Glutamine, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Pimpinella Anisum Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Cellulose Gum
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 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 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 CarbomerNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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