What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Abelmoschus Extract
MaskingArginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
Emollient
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Salvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Abies Sibirica Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Cellulose Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Hibiscus Abelmoschus Extract, Arginine, Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Polyquaternium-51, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Abies Sibirica Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Hibiscus Syriacus Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-29
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Hibiscus Syriacus Bark Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1, Oligopeptide-29, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Gold, Adenosine, Allantoin, Trehalose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
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 AdenosineCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneWater. 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
