This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Retinal to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
This hydrating serum is formulated around Squalane and Ceramide NP to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Acrylic Acid/Ma Copolymer
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingTromethamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientRetinal
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Potentilla Anserina Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Canola Oil
Emollient
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
PCA
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Sucrose Distearate
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingMadecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Niacinamide, Phenyl Trimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylic Acid/Ma Copolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Xanthan Gum, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Tocopherol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Retinal, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Potentilla Anserina Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate, Polyquaternium-51, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Beta-Glucan, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Canola Oil, Myristyl Alcohol, PCA, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobionic Acid, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Beta-Carotene, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Panthenol, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Sucrose Distearate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantButyrospermum Parkii Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningDimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Leaf Cell Extract
Skin ProtectingHibiscus Syriacus Callus Extract
Antioxidant
Rutin
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Tribehenin
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Mica, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Silica, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Ceramide NP, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Leaf Cell Extract, Hibiscus Syriacus Callus Extract, Rutin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Tribehenin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Isostearate
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
