What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Indicum Extract
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Emulsifying
Menthol
Masking
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningViscum Album Extract
Skin ConditioningMenthyl Lactate
Masking
Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract
Antimicrobial
Oak Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Water, Chrysanthemum Indicum Extract, Butylene Glycol, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Niacinamide, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Menthol, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract, Viscum Album Extract, Menthyl Lactate, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Oak Root Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Alcohol, Glycerin, Betaine, Centella Asiatica Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Betaine
Humectant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHexanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cyclotetrasiloxane
Emollient
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantCitrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTripropylene Glycol
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Betaine, Cyclohexasiloxane, Methyl Gluceth-20, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Silica, Octyldodeceth-16, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Chlorphenesin, Dimethiconol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Carbomer, Parfum, Arginine, Xanthan Gum, Hexanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Adenosine, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caramel, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Gold, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Tripropylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 AdenosineBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
