What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Argania Spinosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Polysilicone-11
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
Laureth-12
EmulsifyingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLevulinic Acid
Perfuming
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Pelargonium Roseum Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Isomalt
HumectantArgania Spinosa Sprout Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Xylitylglucoside, Argania Spinosa Leaf Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Copper Tripeptide-1, Glyceryl Stearate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Polysilicone-11, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Xylitol, Laureth-12, Saccharide Isomerate, Xanthan Gum, Levulinic Acid, P-Anisic Acid, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Pelargonium Roseum Leaf Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Isomalt, Argania Spinosa Sprout Cell Extract, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Caprae Lac
Skin ConditioningMilk Protein
Skin ConditioningLactose
HumectantBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Melatonin
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Carbonate
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Tephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Water, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Squalane, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Caprae Lac, Milk Protein, Lactose, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Bakuchiol, Melatonin, Hyaluronic Acid, Isododecane, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Panthenol, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Carbomer, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glyceryl Laurate, Betaine, Sodium Hydroxide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Sodium Carbonate, Propanediol, Tephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin
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-8Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl 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 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
