What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Pentapeptide-18
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Emulsifying
Beheneth-5
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Beheneth-5, Isopropyl Palmitate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Bis-PEG-12 Dimethicone Beeswax
Skin Conditioning
C32-36 Isoalkyl Stearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Phenoxyethanol, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Isopropyl Palmitate, Caffeine, Bis-PEG-12 Dimethicone Beeswax, C32-36 Isoalkyl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Cetearyl Glucoside, Stearic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (also known as Argireline) is a synthetic hexapeptide that is often called a "topical Botox alternative".
It works by mimicking how Botox relaxes muscles; it interferes with the signaling process that tells your facial muscles to contract. This can help soften expression lines like forehead wrinkles or crow's feet over time.
The comparison to Botox does have limits because the molecule is water-loving and relatively large.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 has a hard time absorbing deeply enough through the skin's outer barrier to actually reach the muscles.
So whether it truly works the way Botox does at a biological level is still up for debate, but early clinical outcomes are fairly encouraging.
A 12 week human study of a multi-ingredient regimen containing this ingredient saw:
While some studies have observed improvements in wrinkle appearance, it is important to note that more consistent results are seen in multi-ingredient formulations (vs just Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 alone).
Some research studies also used higher concentrations (up to 10%) while this ingredient is usually found in concentrations up to 0.005% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about Acetyl Hexapeptide-8Caprylyl 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 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 GlycerinIsopropyl Palmitate is a lightweight emollient made by combining isopropyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
It is an emollient that leaves skin feeling smooth and silky without leaving a greasy feel.
Typical usage concentrations range from 1-5%.
Human testing shows it's non-irritating and non-sensitizing, and the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has cleared it at very high levels (79% in leave-on products).
The one thing worth knowing about its comedogenic score of 3-4 is to keep it in perspective: these ratings come from old rabbit-ear tests using 100% of pure ingredient and doesn't reflect how it behaves at low levels in a finished product.
Because it is an ester of palmitic acid (C16), it falls into the range that the Malassezia yeast can feed on and is considered not fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Isopropyl PalmitatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Water. 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
