What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingStearic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Olivate
Betaine
HumectantBakuchiol
AntimicrobialRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningArachis Hypogaea Oil
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLinalool
PerfumingMyristic Acid
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Palmitic Acid, Carbomer, Arginine, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Betaine, Bakuchiol, Retinyl Palmitate, Arachis Hypogaea Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Allantoin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Limonene, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Xanthan Gum, Linalool, Myristic Acid, Tocopherol, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Laurate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Heptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantMentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
MaskingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Adenosine, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Disodium EDTA, Heptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12, Trehalose, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linalool
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 GlycerinLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolWater. 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