This anti-aging ampoule is formulated around Sh-Oligopeptide-1 and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to soften the look of wrinkles and fade the look of dark spots.
This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate and Sodium PCA to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate 71%
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingUrea
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycosaminoglycans
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningRh-Polypeptide-11
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHeptyl Glucoside
SurfactantGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate 71%, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Pentylene Glycol, Glycosaminoglycans, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Polyglutamic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oligopeptide-1, Rh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Rosa Damascena Callus Culture Extract, Allantoin, Adenosine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Heptyl Glucoside
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AdenosineGlycerin (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 Glycerin