What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Squalane, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Adenosine, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Allantoin, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Glucose, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate
Emulsifying
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium DNA
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Collagen
Moisturising
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Nicotinamide Mononucleotide
Antioxidant
Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningNicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningAlkanna Tinctoria Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-59
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Synthetic Wax, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Microcrystalline Wax, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Adenosine, Sodium DNA, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Tocopherol, Water, Caffeine, Collagen, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine Soja Oil, Propanediol, Glycerin, Retinol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, Adenosine Triphosphate, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Alkanna Tinctoria Root Extract, Lecithin, Sodium Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-10, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-3, Sh-Polypeptide-59, Sh-Polypeptide-9
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
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-8Adenosine 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 GlycolGlycerin (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
