What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
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
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventMethylpropanediol
SolventTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
AntioxidantTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantResveratrol
Antioxidant4-Butylresorcinol
AntioxidantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin ProtectingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
AntioxidantMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMenadione
MaskingGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLinolenic Acid
CleansingCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialXanthophylls
Skin ConditioningDiamond Powder
AbrasiveSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTrehalose
HumectantProline
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingLysine
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantLecithin
EmollientAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingThreonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantCysteine
AntioxidantMethionine
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Phytate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Methylpropanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Astaxanthin, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Resveratrol, 4-Butylresorcinol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Menadione, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Beta-Glucan, Adenosine, Linolenic Acid, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Ferulic Acid, Xanthophylls, Diamond Powder, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Trehalose, Proline, Phenylalanine, Glycine, Lysine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Lecithin, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Tromethamine, Dextrin, Carbomer, Maltodextrin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, 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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 EthylhexylglycerinNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium 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