What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Retinyl Palmitate 2.36%
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Diphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
BHA
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Collagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Retinyl Palmitate 2.36%, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Octyldodeceth-16, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C12-14 Alketh-12, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, BHT, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, BHA, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Ascorbic Acid, Collagen Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Inonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Agar
MaskingUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Morinda Citrifolia Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMorinda Citrifolia Flower Extract
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-29
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Agar, Ubiquinone, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Morinda Citrifolia Leaf Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-29, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hexapeptide-12, Hexapeptide-9, Tripeptide-2, Nonapeptide-1, Hexapeptide-11
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
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerAdenosine 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 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 TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTromethamine (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 Water
