What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSalicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Mannose
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningAcetic Acid
BufferingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Propanediol, Cetyl Esters, Jojoba Esters, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Behenyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Ceramide NP, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Adenosine, Mannose, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Lactic Acid, Lactobacillus, Acetic Acid, Maltodextrin, Faex Extract, Polyglycerin-3, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Linalool, Limonene, Citronellol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tridecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocotrienols
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Bran Extract
Abrasive
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sea Whip Extract
Skin ConditioningTripleurospermum Maritimum Extract
Skin ProtectingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Incarnata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAniba Rosaeodora Wood Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cananga Odorata Flower Extract
Perfuming
Cupressus Sempervirens Seed Extract
Perfuming
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSantalum Album Wood Extract
Perfuming
Coriandrum Sativum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract
AstringentCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Prunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rose Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Ceteareth-20
CleansingPEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Isohexadecane
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocoglycerides, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cetyl Esters, Dimethicone, Tridecyl Neopentanoate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ergothioneine, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-10, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Tocopherol, Tocotrienols, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Adenosine, Sea Whip Extract, Tripleurospermum Maritimum Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Fruit Extract, Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Seed Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract, Coriandrum Sativum Seed Extract, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Rose Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ceteareth-20, PEG-40 Stearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Arachidyl Alcohol, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Oleate, Isohexadecane, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 80, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbic Acid
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 AdenosineCetyl 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 AlcoholCetyl Esters is an emollient with an interesting backstory: it's a synthetic wax originally designed to be a copy of spermaceti, a waxy material that used to be harvested from whales.
This ingredient delivers the same "velvety" feel without anything animal-derived (usually made from coconut or palm-sourced fatty alcohols/acids).
Chemically, it's a blend of esters from 14-18 fatty acids and alcohols that is a solid at room temperature but melts on contact with skin. It helps soften and smooth the skin while improving the feel and spread of products.
Typical use concentrations range from 1-10% (most commonly 2-5%).
The CIR Expert Panel has concluded it's safe as used and has shown no skin irritation in available studies.
Because it's a blend of fatty acid esters in the chain-length range that Malassezia can feed on, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetyl EstersGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopherol 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
