What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Biosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningSodium
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHistidine
HumectantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
AntioxidantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-29
AntioxidantOligopeptide-32
AntiseborrhoeicPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-22
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Beta-Glucan, Glycine, Tocopherol, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Pentylene Glycol, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Proline, Valine, Isoleucine, Sodium, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Phosphatidylcholine, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Oligopeptide-29, Oligopeptide-32, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-22, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
AbrasiveDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantPhytic Acid
Sucrose
HumectantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Madecassoside, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Sodium Carbomer, Beta-Glucan, Saccharide Isomerate, Phytic Acid, Sucrose, Asiaticoside, Caprylyl Glycol
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 AdenosineBeta-Glucan is a soluble polysaccharide (a chain of glucose sugars) sourced from the cells walls of oats, baker's yeast, mushrooms, and seaweed.
It's a rare ingredient that pulls double-duty as a heavy-duty hydrator and skin-soothing repair agent.
On the surface, it acts as a humectant that holds water in place and reduces moisture loss for a plumper, smoother feel, while its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it a great pick for calming redness or sensitive skin
The more interesting story is underneath:
Despite its large molecular size, oat beta-glucan has been shown to penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis by slipping between skin cells. Here, it interacts with fibroblasts and macrophages to nudge collagen synthesis and support wound repair.
A small 2005 split-face clinical study of 27 subjects found topical beta-glucan produced measurable reductions in wrinkle depth, height, and roughness after 8 weeks of use.
It is worth noting the trial was small and the penetration testing used frozen, irradiated skin so the anti-aging data is encouraging rather than definitive.
This ingredient gets along with pretty much everything and is typically used around 0.1-1%.
Fungal acne: This ingredient is not a food source for the Malassezia yeast because it is a glucose polysaccharide with no fatty acid or ester component.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanButylene 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 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 EthylhexylglycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidThis ingredient is created by putting sodium hyaluronate through hydrolysis.
You might know this as 'mini' or 'ultra low-molecular weight' hyaluronic acid. The small molecule size means it is able to travel deeper in the skin.
According to studies, low molecular-weight hyaluronic acid can:
One study from 2011 found ultra-low weight HA to show pro-inflammatory properties. Another study from 2022 found it to downregulate UV-B induced inflammation.
Hydrolysis is a process of changing a molecule using water or enzymes.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Sodium HyaluronateSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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