What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientLactobacillus/Centella Asiatica Extract Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningSucrose Distearate
Emollient
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Squalane, Water, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Heptyl Undecylenate, Lactobacillus/Centella Asiatica Extract Ferment Filtrate, Glyceryl Stearate, Bakuchiol, Panthenol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Palmitic Acid, Tromethamine, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Phytosphingosine, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Sucrose Distearate, Asiatic Acid, Lauric Acid, Phytosterols, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Water
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Water, Urea, Glycerin, Bacillus Ferment, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Coco-Caprylate, Tocopherol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hexylresorcinol, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Lactic Acid, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ferulic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sodium Phytate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Reviews
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-8Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Water. 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
