What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPolyglycerin-3
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingGlycereth-26
HumectantCoptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSuccinic Acid
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningViola Odorata Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingRibes Nigrum Fruit Extract
AstringentPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCymbopogon Martini Oil
MaskingLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingGleditsia Triacanthos Seed Extract
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolylactic Acid
AbrasiveMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveRetinal
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientCeteth-5
EmulsifyingCeteth-3
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantBakuchiol
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Water, Gluconolactone, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Tromethamine, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Soluble Collagen, C12-14 Alketh-12, Dimethicone, Methyl Gluceth-20, Methyl Gluceth-10, Glycereth-26, Coptis Japonica Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Lecithin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Succinic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Adenosine, Viola Odorata Flower/Leaf Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Gleditsia Triacanthos Seed Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polylactic Acid, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Cholesterol, Silica, Retinal, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Ceteth-5, Ceteth-3, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Bakuchiol, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract 0.7%
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventAllantoin
Skin ConditioningOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMorinda Citrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSucrose Palmitate
EmollientCitrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSoluble Collagen
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract 0.7%, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Allantoin, Octyldodeceth-16, Dipropylene Glycol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Dextrin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sucrose Palmitate, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Soluble Collagen, Tocopherol
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 AdenosineAllantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinPropanediol 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 PropanediolRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil is an essential oil also known as rosemary essential oil. In skincare, it is a skin conditioning agent and also acts as a natural fragrance that gives products a fresh/herby smell.
The oil is a mix of over 100 volatile compounds with 1,8-cineole, α-pinene, camphor, and verbenone usually leading the pack.
Lab studies credit this oil with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity. Some research even show rosemary compounds calming acne-related inflammation.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be nonsensitizing.
Since this is a fragrant essential oil, the main concern is for fragrance-sensitive folks.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf OilThis is a lab-made ingredient that plays a huge role in improving the texture of a formula.
It's used to thicken watery gel-creams, prevent water + oil from separating, and give products a silky, non-greasy glide.
Safety-wise, a panel of independent toxicologists reviewed this ingredient and concluded it to be safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration.
A separate sensitization patch test on humans also showed no evidence of allergic reactivity, and a true allergy to this ingredient is considered rare.
Typical usage levels range from 0.015%-3% in leave-on products and 0.078%-3.2% in rinse-off products.
Learn more about Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl TaurateSoluble collagen is a large, water-loving protein typically extracted from cattle hides or marine sources like fish skin.
In cosmetics, it works purely as a humectant and film-former.
Despite the marketing that surrounds the word "collagen", its molecule is far too large to penetrate skin so it can't rebuild the collagen in your dermis.
Instead, it sits on the surface and binds water to help reduce transepidermal water loss and leave skin feeling soft, plump, and temporarily tightened.
Suppliers commonly recommend using it around 3-6% though industry data shows concentrations are often much lower (down to a fraction of a percent).
This ingredient has been found safe to use in cosmetics with no reported irritation, sensitization, or phototoxicity.
Learn more about Soluble CollagenWater. 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