What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
C12-13 Alkyl Glyceryl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
Superoxide Dismutase
AntioxidantSaccharomyces Polypeptides
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Copper Ferment
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Zinc Ferment
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Manganese Ferment
Skin ConditioningRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningEnteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycoproteins
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingParfum
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningUndecylenoyl Glycine
CleansingCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingHyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, C12-13 Alkyl Glyceryl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Superoxide Dismutase, Saccharomyces Polypeptides, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Ceramide Ns, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Saccharomyces/Manganese Ferment, Riboflavin, Phospholipids, Folic Acid, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Glycoproteins, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Serine, Proline, Alanine, Glutamic Acid, Niacinamide, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Capryloyl Glycine
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningTeprenone
Skin ConditioningSodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingSuperoxide Dismutase
AntioxidantSodium PCA
HumectantPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
HumectantResveratrol
AntioxidantTrehalose
HumectantTriacetin
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Water
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Sprout Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningRhododendron Ferrugineum Extract
MaskingSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningUrea
BufferingLaminaria Cloustoni Extract
Skin ProtectingDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingMannitol
HumectantSodium Ascorbate
AntioxidantTall Oil Sterol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientGlucose
HumectantGlucose Oxidase
StabilisingLactoperoxidase
StabilisingHyaluronic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Teprenone, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Superoxide Dismutase, Sodium PCA, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Resveratrol, Trehalose, Triacetin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Glycerin, Phospholipids, Argania Spinosa Sprout Cell Extract, Rhododendron Ferrugineum Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Urea, Laminaria Cloustoni Extract, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Mannitol, Sodium Ascorbate, Tall Oil Sterol, Tocopherol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Squalane, Glucose, Glucose Oxidase, Lactoperoxidase
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (formerly Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3) is a synthetic peptide. Its main job is to fight what researchers call "inflammaging".
"Inflammaging" is the slow, low-grade chronic inflammation that quietly breaks down collagen as we age.
This ingredient calms down a specific inflammation signal in your skin cells (called IL-6). When left unchecked, this signal triggers enzymes that break down collagen and elastin.
Clinical testing showed statistically significant improvements in:
Studies also found the more of this ingredient used, the more your skin produces Collagen I, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.
You'll likely see this ingredient paired with Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 in the well-known Matrixyl 3000 complex for enhanced anti-aging effects.
A 3% concentration applied twice daily for two months showed meaningful skin rejuvenation results in clinical panels.
Fungal acne note:
Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 (aka Pal-GHK) is a synthetic signal peptide made of three amino acids attached to palmitic acid.
That fatty acid attachment is the key: it boosts the peptide's ability to penetrate the skin barrier. This puts it closer to the dermal cells where it can actually make a difference.
Once there, it acts as a matrikine, a signaling peptide that prompts fibroblasts to produce more collagen, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.
In vitro studies show it can boost collagen production in skin cells even when UV-damaged skin samples were treated with it at a tiny concentration (it almost fully restored dermal collagen at 5ppm). It achieved this at 100x lower concentration than retinoic acid, which needed 500 ppm to do the same thing.
Human clinical data is promising, but modest:
A study of 23 female volunteers found a small but statistically significant increase (~4%) in skin thickness after treatment at 4 ppm.
A separate small trial of 15 women showed statistically significant reductions in wrinkle length, depth, and skin roughness after applying it twice daily for four weeks.
You'll likely see Pal-GHK paired with Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 as part of the Matrixyl 3000 complex.
Fungal acne note:
Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.
This synthetic peptide is created from lysine, valine, and palmitic acid.
According to the manufacturer, in-vitro studies show tissue growth and collagen synthesis. Another in-vivo study found 60 volunteers saw a significant reduction in wrinkles after 84 days.
Due to its palmitic acid base, this peptide may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5Phospholipids are a family of skin-identical lipids that makeup the structural backbone of every cell membrane in your body.
In cosmetics, they function as skin conditioning agents with emulsifier and surfactant properties. They're typically sourced from soybean or sunflower lecithin (or sometimes egg yolk or marine sources).
Because they mirror the lipids naturally found in the deeper layers of your skin, topical phospholipids help reinforce the lipid matrix, reduce transepidermal water loss, and leave skin feeling conditioned.
They're also used to form liposomes, or tiny self-assembling vesible used to stabilize actives like vitamin c or retinol. This helps these ingredients integrate into the upper layers of skin more easily.
Phospholipids are compatible with everything and the CIR Expert Panel has concluded them to be safe at current use levels.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe since phospholipids contain fatty acid chains in the C11-24 range that the malassezia yeast likes to feed on.
Some types of phospholipids include:
Learn more about PhospholipidsSodium 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 HyaluronateSuperoxide Dismutase is found in all living cells. This ingredient is AKA as 'SOD'.
SOD is a strong antioxidant. It protects living cells against oxidative damage by breaking down radical molecules into regular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide.
Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules that may damage your skin's DNA. This may help with the signs of aging. Due to its antioxidant property, it is used to help treat chronic inflammation.
In cosmetics, SOD is usually obtained from marine phytoplankton, bovine liver, horseradish, cantaloupe, and certain bacteria.
The three major families of SOD include: Copper/Zinc, Iron/Manganese, and Nickel.
When eating SOD-rich foods, our bodies break it down into amino acids before absorption. Foods that contain SOD include: melons, citrus, spinach, broccoli, kale, almonds, sunflower seeds, and blue-green algae.
Learn more about Superoxide Dismutase