What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Corn Gluten Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Yeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Extract
Masking
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Corn Gluten Amino Acids, Glyceryl Glucoside, Saccharide Isomerate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Yeast Ferment Extract, Panthenol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (also known as Argireline) is a synthetic hexapeptide that is often called a "topical Botox alternative".
It works by mimicking how Botox relaxes muscles; it interferes with the signaling process that tells your facial muscles to contract. This can help soften expression lines like forehead wrinkles or crow's feet over time.
The comparison to Botox does have limits because the molecule is water-loving and relatively large.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 has a hard time absorbing deeply enough through the skin's outer barrier to actually reach the muscles.
So whether it truly works the way Botox does at a biological level is still up for debate, but early clinical outcomes are fairly encouraging.
A 12 week human study of a multi-ingredient regimen containing this ingredient saw:
While some studies have observed improvements in wrinkle appearance, it is important to note that more consistent results are seen in multi-ingredient formulations (vs just Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 alone).
Some research studies also used higher concentrations (up to 10%) while this ingredient is usually found in concentrations up to 0.005% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about Acetyl Hexapeptide-8Glycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
