What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyethylene
AbrasivePropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHomosalate
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberButylene Glycol
HumectantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Niacinamide
SmoothingDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterVinyldimethicone
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningOzokerite
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
EmulsifyingPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
AntioxidantBambusa Vulgaris Water
Skin ConditioningMesembryanthemum Crystallinum Extract
HumectantHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientViola Mandshurica Flower Extract
AntioxidantDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningPolyurethane-11
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantAscorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Polyethylene, Propylheptyl Caprylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Homosalate, Silica, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Niacinamide, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Vinyldimethicone, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ozokerite, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Ceramide NP, Glycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Polyurethane-11, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Astaxanthin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingDiethylhexyl Succinate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberNiacinamide
SmoothingDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterTerephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
AstringentTromethamine
BufferingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Propanediol, Water, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Niacinamide, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, Methyl Trimethicone, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Tromethamine, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Arachidyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arachidyl Glucoside, Sodium Metaphosphate, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 AdenosineCaprylyl 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 GlycolDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinNiacinamide 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 NiacinamideSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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