What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningUrea
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantBacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientSodium Phytate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantWater, Urea, Glycerin, Bacillus Ferment, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Coco-Caprylate, Tocopherol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hexylresorcinol, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Lactic Acid, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ferulic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sodium Phytate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingWater
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
CleansingBetaine
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMyristic Acid
CleansingCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningSnail Secretion Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Water, Palmitic Acid, Arginine, Carbomer, Stearic Acid, Betaine, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Myristic Acid, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
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-8Glycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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