What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
AntimicrobialAdenosine
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingHoney Extract
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingMentha Citrata Leaf Extract
AstringentMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFreesia Refracta Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Oryza Sativa Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Dipropylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Adenosine, Parfum, Honey Extract, Butylene Glycol, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Mentha Citrata Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Freesia Refracta Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrogenated Polydecene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveArtemisia Capillaris Extract
Akebia Quinata Extract
Skin ConditioningOzothamnus Diosmifolius Extract
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPassiflora Edulis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllostachys Nigra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantDimethiconol
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyisobutene
Sorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingOryza Sativa Bran Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Water, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Akebia Quinata Extract, Ozothamnus Diosmifolius Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Passiflora Edulis Flower Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Phyllostachys Nigra Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Dimethiconol, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyisobutene, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
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 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 CarbomerDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateSorbitan Sesquioleate is derived from sorbitol and oleic acid. It is an emulsifier and prevents ingredients from separating.
Specifically, this ingredient is a water-in-oil emulsifier, meaning it helps water dissolve into oil.
Some studies suggest this ingredient may cause irritation in some people. If you are unsure, it is best to patch test.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe due to the oleic acid. In vitro studies have shown that Oleic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
Learn more about Sorbitan SesquioleateWater. 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