What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingC13-15 Alkane
SolventTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Guaiazulene, Dipropylene Glycol, Carbomer, C13-15 Alkane, Tromethamine, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Trideceth-6, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientLactobacillus/Centella Asiatica Extract Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningSucrose Distearate
Emollient
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Squalane, Water, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Heptyl Undecylenate, Lactobacillus/Centella Asiatica Extract Ferment Filtrate, Glyceryl Stearate, Bakuchiol, Panthenol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Palmitic Acid, Tromethamine, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Phytosphingosine, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Sucrose Distearate, Asiatic Acid, Lauric Acid, Phytosterols, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
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
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerAdenosine 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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
