What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 7%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingJojoba Esters
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
EmollientGuanosine
Skin ConditioningCyathea Medullaris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Linseed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPEG-8 Laurate
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
EmulsifyingPolyglycerin-3
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Steareth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientLimonene
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCinnamic Acid
PerfumingLeontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGeraniol
PerfumingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentLevulinic Acid
PerfumingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientParfum
MaskingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 7%, Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Alcohol Denat., Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Jojoba Esters, Tocopherol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Guanosine, Cyathea Medullaris Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 17200, Sodium Levulinate, Phenoxyethanol, Adenosine, PEG-8 Laurate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Polyglycerin-3, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Steareth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Limonene, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Cinnamic Acid, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Geraniol, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Disodium EDTA, Cetyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Levulinic Acid, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Parfum
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingSqualane
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSucrose
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantSuperoxide Dismutase
AntioxidantUbiquinone
AntioxidantUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCollagen Amino Acids
MoisturisingHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialGlycolic Acid
BufferingCarnitine
CleansingGlycine
BufferingCarnitine Hcl
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientTriethyl Citrate
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingElettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract
PerfumingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentCananga Odorata Flower Extract
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingCucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientJasminum Officinale Flower Extract
MaskingRose Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSantalum Album Wood Extract
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
Preservative3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Squalane, Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Dimethicone, Sucrose, Pentylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Lactic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ceramide NP, Saccharide Isomerate, Superoxide Dismutase, Ubiquinone, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Adenosine, Collagen Amino Acids, Hydroxyproline, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glycolic Acid, Carnitine, Glycine, Carnitine Hcl, Lactobacillus Ferment, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate 60, Carbomer, Ammonium Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Triethyl Citrate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Rose Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
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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 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 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateWater. 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