What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingLactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
AntioxidantLactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Grape Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantLaureth-7
EmulsifyingBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAnemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Skin ConditioningInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningElaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantOligopeptide-32
AntiseborrhoeicOligopeptide-29
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Polyacrylamide, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Polysorbate 20, Arginine, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Saccharomyces/Grape Ferment Extract, Carbomer, Allantoin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Laureth-7, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Parfum, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Oligopeptide-32, Oligopeptide-29, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Water
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingJojoba Esters
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantLactose
HumectantCellulose
AbsorbentHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract
AbrasiveJania Rubens Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Hyaluronic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Jojoba Esters, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lactose, Cellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract, Jania Rubens Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Parfum
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 AdenosineButylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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 EDTAHydrolyzed Collagen is Collagen (usually sourced from fish, bovine, or porcine byproducts) that's been broken down into smaller peptides. This makes it water-soluble and easy to blend into formulations.
In a formula, it works mainly as a skin-conditioning and moisturizing agent.
The small peptides and amino acids (including Natural Moisturizing Factor components like Hydroxyproline, Serine, and Aspartic Acid) help the surface of the skin hold onto water, feel softer, and look temporarily plumper.
This ingredient also has mild film-forming and antioxidant properties with research showing the antioxidant effect is stronger the lower the molecular weight of the peptides.
It's worth being realistic here:
Topically applied Hydrolyzed Collagen conditions the upper layers of skin rather than rebuilding the structural collagen deep in your dermis (the wrinkle-and-firmness benefits people associate with Collagen mostly come from oral supplements in studies, not topicals).
However, recent lab and skin-model work on Hydrolyzed Fish Collagen has shown promising effects on cell viability and wound healing when used as an active.
Typical concentrations range from 0.2-2%, but the percentage can go much higher in rinse-off or hair products (sometimes even above 50%).
Clinical studies on this ingredient showed no irritation, sensitization, or phototoxicity.
If you are looking for vegan collagen, it usually goes by a different INCI name like hydrolyzed soy protein. Vegan collagen is derived from yeast, bacteria, or plant sources.
The results are varied.
A study from 2021 found hydrolyzed collagen increased elasticity and improved wrinkles in 1,125 participants between age 20 and 70. Another study found increased skin thickness in participants between the ages of 45 to 59.
However, It is difficult to prove that oral collagen will end up working on your skin. Many of the studies using hydrolyzed collagen also add several vitamins and nutrients into the test mixture as well.
Further studies are needed at this time.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed CollagenParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumWater. 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