This anti-aging serum is formulated around Copper Tripeptide-1 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Gluconolactone to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPropanediol
SolventDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventEthoxydiglycol
HumectantIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientPropylene Glycol Caprylate
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-10 Citrulline
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmulsifyingMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Propanediol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ethoxydiglycol, Isostearyl Isostearate, Propylene Glycol Caprylate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Tripeptide-10 Citrulline, Lecithin, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Gluconolactone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cellulose Gum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Acetyl Tyrosinamide
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Isopropyl Myristate
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Sulfite
PreservativeBHT
AntioxidantAmmonium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMethyldihydrojasmonate
Masking2,6-Dimethyl-7-Octen-2-Ol
MaskingEthyl Acetoacetate
PerfumingMethyl Benzodioxepinone
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, PEG-8, Gluconolactone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Acetyl Tyrosinamide, Cyclohexasiloxane, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethiconol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Isopropyl Myristate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Sulfite, BHT, Ammonium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Methyldihydrojasmonate, 2,6-Dimethyl-7-Octen-2-Ol, Ethyl Acetoacetate, Methyl Benzodioxepinone, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, CI 17200, CI 42090
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cyclohexasiloxane is a type of silicone more commonly known as D6. It is an emollient and solvent.
Cyclohexasiloxane is used to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. When applied to the skin, Cyclohexasiloxane evaporates and leaves behind a silky feel.
As an emollient, it can help the skin feel soft and hydrated. It is also used to reduce frizz in hair products.
Learn more about CyclohexasiloxaneCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 PhenoxyethanolWater. 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