What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDiglycerin
HumectantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Laurate
EmulsifyingTrehalose
HumectantRosa Multiflora Flower Water
HumectantStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Gardenia Florida Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCapsicum Annuum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRibes Nigrum Leaf Extract
PerfumingStone Bean Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPantolactone
HumectantPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
AntioxidantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingSodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingRosa Damascena Flower Extract
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Flower Extract
PerfumingChrysanthemum Indicum Extract
AntioxidantMelilotus Officinalis Flower Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentViola Odorata Flower Extract
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium DNA
Skin ConditioningUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAzulene
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diglycerin, Arginine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Trehalose, Rosa Multiflora Flower Water, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Gardenia Florida Flower Extract, Capsicum Annuum Leaf Extract, Ribes Nigrum Leaf Extract, Stone Bean Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pantolactone, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Flower Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Extract, Melilotus Officinalis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Viola Odorata Flower Extract, Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, Sodium DNA, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Azulene, Beta-Glucan, Ectoin, Gluconolactone, Retinol, Squalane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingBetaine
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingJuniperus Mexicana Oil
MaskingMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningMilk Protein Extract
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Betaine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Citrate, Allantoin, Octyldodeceth-16, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Collagen Extract, Adenosine, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butylene Glycol, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Ceramide NP, Milk Protein Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
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 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 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 EDTAGlycereth-26 is a synthetic ingredient and polyethylene glycol ether of Glycerin. Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin and helps keep your skin moisturized.
It is a humectant and helps add texture to products. It can make your product thicker.
As a humectant, it helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps your skin stay hydrated.
Learn more about Glycereth-26Glycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil is the pressed oil of the Rose Geranium plant. It is volatile, meaning it evaporates off the skin.
Fragrant components of Rose Geranium include citronellol and geraniol. These may cause allergies and skin-sensitivity. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
The scent of Rose Geranium closely resembles traditional roses.
Learn more about Pelargonium Graveolens Flower OilWater. 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