What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Water
Masking
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Tromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingNarcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract
Astringent
Methoxy PEG-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone
BufferingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Honey
Humectant
Linalool
Perfuming
Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonatum Odoratum Rhizome Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Alcohol Denat., 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Niacinamide, Methyl Gluceth-20, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Carbomer, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Methoxy PEG-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone, Beta-Glucan, Honey, Linalool, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Polygonatum Odoratum Rhizome Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Tocopherol
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Panax Ginseng Root Water
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Argyi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
P-Anisic Acid
MaskingCitronellol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Bacillus Ferment, Water, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, 2,3-Butanediol, Alcohol, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Panthenol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Adenosine, Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Levulinate, Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, P-Anisic Acid, Citronellol, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal
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 GlycolCarbomer 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 CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanax Ginseng Root Water is created by distilling ginseng, popular herb from Asia.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient has antioxidant and skin brightening properties.
Read more about the benefits of Panax Ginseng Root Extract.
Learn more about Panax Ginseng Root WaterParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumTromethamine (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 TromethamineWater. 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
