What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
PEG-50 Shea Butter
Emulsifying
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingErythritol
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Spica Flower Oil
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOzonized Olive Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingOrange Roughy Oil
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingAsiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Butter Extract
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Niacinamide, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, PEG-50 Shea Butter, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Squalane, Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tromethamine, Panthenol, Sodium Carbomer, Erythritol, Trehalose, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Adenosine, Lavandula Spica Flower Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ozonized Olive Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Orange Roughy Oil, Madecassoside, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Asiaticoside, Malt Extract, Asiatic Acid, Butter Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Leaf Extract, Ceramide AP, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Linoleic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Linolenic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSea Water
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Rosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sea Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Honey Extract, Parfum, Allantoin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Trideceth-6, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 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 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 TriglycerideCetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 HyaluronateTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about Tromethamine
