What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Niacinamide, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment, Adenosine, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
Humectant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Althaea Rosea Extract
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Artemisia Princeps Extract
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract
Antimicrobial
Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCamellia Sinensis Extract, Propanediol, Glycerin, 2,3-Butanediol, Trehalose, Water, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Pyrus Malus Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Althaea Rosea Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Artemisia Princeps Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Saururus Chinensis Leaf/Root Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Glucose, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Adenosine, Dextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Tromethamine, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer
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 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 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 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 GlycerinSodium 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
