What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCalcium Chloride
AstringentButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Ceramide NP
Skin ConditioningDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-3
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningGlucomannan
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Powder
AbrasivePEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentMonascus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPrunella Vulgaris Extract
AntioxidantFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Calcium Chloride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Glutathione, Ceramide NP, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hexapeptide-3, Caffeine, Glucomannan, Chondrus Crispus Powder, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dextrin, Monascus Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Prunella Vulgaris Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSucrose
HumectantPotassium Chloride
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCalcium Aluminum Borosilicate
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningBis-PEG-15 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Calcium Lactate
AstringentCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
AbrasiveMica
Cosmetic ColorantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantPalmitic Acid
EmollientParfum
MaskingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCaviar Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Cellulose Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sucrose, Potassium Chloride, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, CI 77007, Adenosine, Bis-PEG-15 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Calcium Lactate, CI 77891, Silica, Mica, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butylene Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Parfum, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Caviar Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol
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 in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
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 GlycolCeratonia Siliqua Gum is extracted from the seeds of the carob tree. You might know this ingredient as Carob Gum or Locust Bean Gum. It is used to stabilize other ingredients and improve the texture of products.
Carob gum is made up of long-chain polysaccharides. This makes it a natural thickener.
Yes! This ingredient comes from the seeds of a tree. The name 'Locust Bean Gum' can be misleading.
Learn more about Ceratonia Siliqua GumDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Collagen is Collagen (usually sourced from fish, bovine, or porcine byproducts) that's been broken down into smaller peptides. This makes it water-soluble and easy to blend into formulations.
In a formula, it works mainly as a skin-conditioning and moisturizing agent.
The small peptides and amino acids (including Natural Moisturizing Factor components like Hydroxyproline, Serine, and Aspartic Acid) help the surface of the skin hold onto water, feel softer, and look temporarily plumper.
This ingredient also has mild film-forming and antioxidant properties with research showing the antioxidant effect is stronger the lower the molecular weight of the peptides.
It's worth being realistic here:
Topically applied Hydrolyzed Collagen conditions the upper layers of skin rather than rebuilding the structural collagen deep in your dermis (the wrinkle-and-firmness benefits people associate with Collagen mostly come from oral supplements in studies, not topicals).
However, recent lab and skin-model work on Hydrolyzed Fish Collagen has shown promising effects on cell viability and wound healing when used as an active.
Typical concentrations range from 0.2-2%, but the percentage can go much higher in rinse-off or hair products (sometimes even above 50%).
Clinical studies on this ingredient showed no irritation, sensitization, or phototoxicity.
If you are looking for vegan collagen, it usually goes by a different INCI name like hydrolyzed soy protein. Vegan collagen is derived from yeast, bacteria, or plant sources.
The results are varied.
A study from 2021 found hydrolyzed collagen increased elasticity and improved wrinkles in 1,125 participants between age 20 and 70. Another study found increased skin thickness in participants between the ages of 45 to 59.
However, It is difficult to prove that oral collagen will end up working on your skin. Many of the studies using hydrolyzed collagen also add several vitamins and nutrients into the test mixture as well.
Further studies are needed at this time.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed CollagenHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePeg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil comes from hydrogenated castor oil. It is a solubilizer and emulsifier.
As a solubilizer, it helps dissolve ingredients into a water-based version. It is also an emulsifer. Emulsifier help prevent oils and water from separating. Both these properties help create evenly-spread and uniform products.
Basically, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil helps hold ingredients together.
Learn more about PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor OilWater. 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