The History of Whoo Bichup Self-Generating Anti-Aging Concentrate Versus Institut Esthederm Intensive Retinol
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Panthenol and Panax Ginseng Root Extract to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier.
This anti-aging night moisturizer is formulated around Retinyl Palmitate and Carnosine to soften the look of wrinkles and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Biosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPEG-150
HumectantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningRehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Extract
PerfumingVelvet Extract
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
EmollientDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol
CleansingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingAlgin
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentTypha Angustifolia Spike Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAtractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract
Skin ConditioningSaposhnikovia Divaricata Root Extract
AntimicrobialZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingZizyphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Stearic Acid
CleansingAngelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-20
HumectantPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningTrisodium EDTA
Cordyceps Sinensis Extract
AntioxidantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantArbutin
AntioxidantGlycosphingolipids
EmollientOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantOligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningHistidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingThreonine
Leucine
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingInositol
HumectantCystine
MaskingTryptophan
MaskingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingCalcium Pantothenate
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-150, Methyl Trimethicone, Panthenol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyproline, C14-22 Alcohols, Squalane, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Velvet Extract, Tromethamine, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Triethylhexanoin, Carbomer, Dimethiconol, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Parfum, Algin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Typha Angustifolia Spike Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Atractylodes Japonica Rhizome Extract, Saposhnikovia Divaricata Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Zizyphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Stearic Acid, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Cholesterol, PEG-100 Stearate, Beta-Glucan, Glycereth-20, Poria Cocos Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Trisodium EDTA, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, CI 15985, CI 19140, Arbutin, Glycosphingolipids, Oligopeptide-1, Oligopeptide-4, Phospholipids, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Oligopeptide-2, Histidine Hcl, Arginine, Lysine, Valine, Threonine, Leucine, Methionine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Inositol, Cystine, Tryptophan, Folic Acid, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hcl, Thiamine Hcl, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Riboflavin, Cyanocobalamin
Glycerin
HumectantCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPalmitamide DEA
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientMacrogol Stearate Type I
Cetyl Palmitate
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialC30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
EmollientRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
MaskingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycerin, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Dipropylene Glycol, Palmitamide DEA, Cetearyl Alcohol, Macrogol Stearate Type I, Cetyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Retinyl Palmitate, Polysorbate 60, Propylene Glycol, Parfum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sorbitan Stearate, Carnosine, Tocopherol, Laminaria Digitata Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 GlycerinParfum 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 ParfumPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene Glycol