This anti-aging ampoule is formulated around Sodium DNA to soften the look of wrinkles.
This barrier-repair ampoule is formulated around Bifida Ferment Filtrate and Niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier and soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientArabidopsis Thaliana Extract
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientMaltitol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium DNA
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingAcrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientDictamnus Dasycarpus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Peptide
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningSophora Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ProtectingChitosan
Cnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract
HumectantOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingLedebouriella Divaricata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningKochia Scoparia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccaria Segetalis Seed Extract
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativePropanediol
SolventLecithin
EmollientSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Cetearyl Alcohol, Maltitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Micrococcus Lysate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium DNA, Cetearyl Glucoside, Triethanolamine, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dictamnus Dasycarpus Root Extract, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Avena Sativa Peptide, Plankton Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Adenosine, Ectoin, Allantoin, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Panthenol, Ceteareth-20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Sophora Japonica Flower Extract, Chitosan, Cnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Polysorbate 20, Pentylene Glycol, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Ledebouriella Divaricata Root Extract, Kochia Scoparia Fruit Extract, Vaccaria Segetalis Seed Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Lecithin, Soluble Proteoglycan, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Bifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantPolyglycerin-3
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningYeast Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantSodium DNA
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Phytate
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
AntioxidantCholesterol
EmollientChitosan
Tocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientRetinol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientTannic Acid
AstringentPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate
Emulsion StabilisingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingTris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingBifida Ferment Filtrate, Water, Sorbitol, Polyglycerin-3, 1,2-Hexanediol, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Methyl Trimethicone, Yeast Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glycerin, Sodium DNA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Triethylhexanoin, Xanthan Gum, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Beta-Glucan, Pentylene Glycol, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Cholesterol, Chitosan, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Retinol, Ceramide NP, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Tannic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
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 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 TriglycerideCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPWe don't have a description for Chitosan yet.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol 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 DNA is an emerging anti-aging ingredient.
It is created by taking deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and purifying it with sodium hydroxide.
The DNA is extracted from several different animal sources, including: calf thymus, the gonadic tissue of a male sturgeon, or herring / salmon sperm.
You have probably seen this ingredient in anti-aging skincare. But what is it?
DNA is composed of nucleotides, or chemical building blocks. Nucleotides include adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). Talk about a flashback to biology! Nucleosides are formed from these nucleotides.
The science behind Sodium DNA is based on an ingredient called Polydeoxyribonucleotide or PDRN.
PDRN are DNA fragments mainly extracted from the sperm cells of trout or salmon. Meaning, PDRN can be derived from Sodium DNA.
PDRN consists of chains of nucleotides and nucleosides mentioned above. They can range anywhere from 80 - 2000 pairs.
Studies show PDRN has the following properties:
Most of the research on PDRN has been done using injectable forms. That’s important, because PDRN is a large molecule and doesn’t absorb well through the skin. So if you’re applying it topically, the effects are likely to be much milder.
Still, topical Sodium DNA is emerging as a trendy anti-aging ingredient. It’s generally well-tolerated and offers good biocompatibility with human skin, making it a low-risk addition to most routines.
Further studies are needed to truly confirm this ingredients anti-aging ability (Remember, retinol has decades of research!).
Sodium DNA may be sourced from fish, animal tissue, or plants. Since this isn’t always disclosed, we recommend asking the brand directly if the ingredient’s origin is important to you.
Learn more about Sodium DNAWater. 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