This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Panax Ginseng Root Extract and Adenosine to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
This brightening eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Caffeine to brighten dull-looking skin and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingMethylpropanediol
SolventHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsododecane
EmollientBetaine
HumectantHexanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSoluble Collagen
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Pulsatilla Koreana Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantBoswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingWater, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Beeswax, Methylpropanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isododecane, Betaine, Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Soluble Collagen, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Squalane, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethicone
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolysilicone-11
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPCA Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingBoron Nitride
AbsorbentSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDimethiconol
EmollientSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialArginine
MaskingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTin Oxide
AbrasiveHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Caffeine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, Polysorbate 20, Polysilicone-11, Carbomer, PCA Dimethicone, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Tromethamine, Boron Nitride, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, CI 77891, Dimethiconol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Metaphosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Arginine, Cyclodextrin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tin Oxide, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSqualane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about SqualaneWater. 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