What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Niacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantSqualane
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin ProtectingWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientIsopentyldiol
HumectantBetula Platyphylla Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantArginine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingHistidine
HumectantLeucine
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningMannitol
HumectantAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Isopentyldiol, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Polyglutamic Acid, Allantoin, Betaine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methylpropanediol, Beta-Glucan, Trehalose, Arginine, Alanine, Tyrosine, Histidine, Leucine, Methionine, Mannitol, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Caffeine, Zinc Gluconate, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Polyacrylate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Adenosine, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AdenosineBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineNiacinamide 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 NiacinamideSodium 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 Hyaluronate