What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialC18-36 Acid Glycol Ester
EmollientC18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientOryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Allantoin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Saccharide Isomerate, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, C18-36 Acid Glycol Ester, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Oryza Sativa Starch, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
Vinyldimethicone
Hydrogenated Coconut Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-32
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Isopentyldiol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Squalane, Vinyldimethicone, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Panthenol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xylitylglucoside, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Anhydroxylitol, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Octyldodecanol, Betaine, Xylitol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Adenosine, Glucose, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ceramide NP, Propanediol, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Dextrin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Asiatic Acid, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Madecassic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Asiaticoside, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Tripeptide-32, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hexapeptide-9, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Nonapeptide-1
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolPalmitoyl 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.
Sodium 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 Water
