What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientGlyceryl Oleate Citrate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingWater
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Citrus Medica Peel Oil
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Orchid Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Water, Xanthan Gum, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Citrus Medica Peel Oil, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Coco-Glucoside, Octyldodecanol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Propylene Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Orchid Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Sodium Lactate, Tocopherol, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Steareth-21
CleansingNelumbo Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Averrhoa Carambola Leaf Extract
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sorbitol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Betaine, Steareth-21, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Averrhoa Carambola Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Silica, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sorbitol, Dimethicone, Sodium PCA, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Lauroyl Lysine, Adenosine, Glucose, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Citral
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl 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 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 GlycerinTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTromethamine (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 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
