What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantPolyglycerin-3
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Seed Oil
HumectantYeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Polyglycerin-3, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Butylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Tromethamine, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Yeast Ferment Extract, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Methyl Gluceth-20
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPolyglycerin-3
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingMethylpropanediol
SolventHoney Extract
HumectantPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPiper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPanax Ginseng Berry Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantBrassica Napus Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningRaffinose
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentTromethamine
BufferingPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
EmollientPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Alcohol Denat., Polyglycerin-3, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Honey Extract, Propolis Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Brassica Napus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Octyldodeceth-16, Glycosyl Trehalose, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Adenosine, Raffinose, Carbomer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tromethamine, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Lecithin, Polyquaternium-51, Beta-Glucan, Dextrin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum
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 AdenosineCarbomer 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 CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinMethyl Gluceth-20 is a humectant. Humectants help draw moisture from the air to your skin.
It is created by combining polyethylene glycol with glucose.
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 NiacinamidePolyglycerin-3 is a 3-unit glycerin polymer.
Like glycerin, this ingredient is a humectant. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing water to it.
Having moisturized skin helps improve the skin barrier. Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Learn more about Polyglycerin-3Tromethamine (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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum