This hydrating serum is formulated around Panthenol and Squalane to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to soften the look of wrinkles and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantPotassium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantBenzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Propanediol, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Xylitol, Methylpropanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Betaine, Glyceryl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trehalose, Sodium PCA, Ceramide NP, Glucose, Serine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Potassium Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, CI 14700, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Hyaluronic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantGuanosine
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSilica Silylate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingLimonene
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTin Oxide
Abrasive
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Isohexadecane
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Geraniol
Perfuming
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Octyldodecyl Xyloside
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Citronellol
Perfuming
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Pentylene Glycol, CI 77891, Guanosine, Mica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Stearic Acid, Adenosine, Caffeine, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Silica Silylate, Palmitic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 80, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Limonene, Xanthan Gum, Tin Oxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Boron Nitride, Ferulic Acid, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Oleate, Myristic Acid, Geraniol, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Octyldodecanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Glyceryl Stearate, Parfum
Reviews
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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
