This brightening ampoule is formulated around Niacinamide and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and soften the look of wrinkles.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Copper Tripeptide-1 and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Water
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingDiethoxyethyl Succinate
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantWater
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantArbutin
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingSodium Phytate
ChelatingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPvp
Emulsion StabilisingLaurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantFullerenes
AntimicrobialLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycine Soja Oil, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Arbutin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panthenol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Ceramide NP, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Sodium Phytate, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Sodium Citrate, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Beta-Carotene, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Allantoin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Dipropylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Caprylyl Glycol, Ascorbic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentylene Glycol, Pvp, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytosterols, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Fullerenes, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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