What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventEthoxydiglycol
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
SmoothingTrehalose
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCollagen
MoisturisingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantAllium Sativum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveBertholletia Excelsa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Seed Extract
HumectantSalmon Egg Extract
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingWine Extract
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-10 Isostearate
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingGlucose
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPullulan
Glycerin
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Squalane
EmollientSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientSodium DNA
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingWater, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Ethoxydiglycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Niacinamide, Trehalose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Collagen, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Soluble Collagen, Allium Sativum Bulb Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Salmon Egg Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Wine Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, Tromethamine, Glucose, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Adenosine, Sodium Phytate, Cyanocobalamin, Tocopherol, Pullulan, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Soluble Proteoglycan, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Sodium DNA, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingOcimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBoron Nitride
AbsorbentPalmitic Acid
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingDextrin
AbsorbentStearyl Alcohol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Ceramide NP, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Boron Nitride, Palmitic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Adenosine, Tromethamine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Dextrin, Stearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
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 AdenosineCarbomer 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 CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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