What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantHydrolyzed Sponge
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentLauryl Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer
CleansingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
C12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Leaf
Skin ConditioningTetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine
Tromethamine
BufferingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Seed
AbrasiveMalachite Extract
AntioxidantMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin ConditioningSchisandra Chinensis Callus Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingThymus Extract
Skin ConditioningPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCydonia Oblonga Flower Extract
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantDextrin
AbsorbentWater, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Methyl Gluceth-20, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Carbomer, Arginine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Lauryl Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, C12-14 Alketh-12, Centella Asiatica Leaf, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Tromethamine, Adenosine, Mangifera Indica Seed, Malachite Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Callus Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Thymus Extract, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Cydonia Oblonga Flower Extract, Caramel, Dextrin
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyisobutene
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Sponge
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningDiospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Polyisobutene, Hydroxyacetophenone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrolyzed sponge comes from marine or freshwater sponges. This is the main ingredient for "spicules".
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. They help push active ingredients into the skin to enhance the penetration and efficacy of these ingredients.
Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTromethamine (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 Water