What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylic Acid
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingAngelica Archangelica Root Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantHydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningAgar
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPerfluorodecalin
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingUbiquinone
AntioxidantThymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingBuddleja Davidii Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningOxycoccus Palustris Seed Oil
AntioxidantAluminum Glycinate
AstringentPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSucrose Palmitate
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Polyacrylic Acid, Glycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Angelica Archangelica Root Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Agar, Caprylyl Glycol, Perfluorodecalin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ubiquinone, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Oxycoccus Palustris Seed Oil, Aluminum Glycinate, Polysorbate 60, Ceramide NP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sucrose Palmitate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAgar
MaskingPolyacrylic Acid
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantTartaric Acid
BufferingAluminum Glycinate
AstringentSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningMenthoxypropanediol
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingSea Water
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientRhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantLimonene
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Agar, Polyacrylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Cellulose Gum, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Adenosine, Betaine, Tartaric Acid, Aluminum Glycinate, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Caffeine, Menthoxypropanediol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Sea Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Limonene
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-8Agar is the vegan substitute for animal-gelatin. It helps thicken and improve the texture of cosmetics. It comes from cell-walls of red algae.
We don't have a description for Aluminum Glycinate yet.
Caprylyl 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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for Polyacrylic Acid yet.
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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum