What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberOctocrylene
UV AbsorberPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTribehenin
EmollientPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
EmulsifyingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSilica Silylate
EmollientAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Homosalate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glycerin, Silica, Alcohol Denat., Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Tribehenin, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Silica Silylate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tocopherol, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin
HumectantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingBetaine
HumectantMagnesium Sulfate
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
EmollientCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Vulgaris Oil
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingPrunus Persica Flower Extract
MoisturisingLaurus Nobilis Leaf Extract
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMyristic Acid
CleansingStearic Acid
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Glycerin, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Betaine, Magnesium Sulfate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, CI 77492, Silica, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Glycosyl Trehalose, Palmitic Acid, CI 77491, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aluminum Hydroxide, CI 77499, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Adenosine, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Prunus Persica Flower Extract, Laurus Nobilis Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Propylene Glycol, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Myristic Acid, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
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 AdenosineAluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.
As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.
According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.
In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.
There is currently no credible scientific evidence linking aluminum hydroxide in cosmetics to increased cancer risk.
Major health organizations allow the use of aluminum hydroxide in personal care products and have not flagged it as a carcinogenic risk at typical usage levels.
Learn more about Aluminum HydroxideCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Ci 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Disteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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