What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Olivate
Glycerin
HumectantSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantBenzyl Glycol
SolventArginine
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Starch
AbsorbentPolyacrylate-2
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingRaspberry Ketone
MaskingIsohexadecane
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Butoxydiglycol
MaskingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingWater, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Olivate, Glycerin, Sorbitan Olivate, Microcrystalline Wax, Sodium Polyacrylate, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Benzyl Glycol, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Starch, Polyacrylate-2, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Raspberry Ketone, Isohexadecane, Disodium EDTA, Butoxydiglycol, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Adenosine, BHT, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
Humectant4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor
UV AbsorberGlycereth-26
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPolyepsilon-Lysine
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantQuartz
AbrasiveXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBHT
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientPrunus Mume Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Kobus Branch/Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Tigrinum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Butylene Glycol, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenyl Trimethicone, Ascorbic Acid, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Chloride, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, CI 77492, Decyl Glucoside, CI 77491, CI 77499, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Polyepsilon-Lysine, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propylene Glycol, Quartz, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, BHT, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Centella Asiatica Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract, Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Prunus Mume Flower Extract, Magnolia Kobus Branch/Flower/Leaf Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Reviews
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 AdenosineBHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTButylene 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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTANiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePentylene 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 GlycolWater. 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