What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingPropanediol
SolventPPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSalicylic Acid
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingP-Anisic Acid
MaskingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingAcetyl Trifluoromethylphenyl Valylglycine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingMadecassoside
AntioxidantBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Propanediol, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Caprylyl Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, P-Anisic Acid, Adenosine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Acetyl Trifluoromethylphenyl Valylglycine, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Madecassoside, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Yeast Extract, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBetaine
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCleome Gynandra Leaf Extract
AntiseborrhoeicPistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingTromethamine
BufferingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Zinc PCA, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Cleome Gynandra Leaf Extract, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Tromethamine, Phenethyl Alcohol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Allantoin, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Tocopherol
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 GlycolPentylene 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 GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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