This anti-aging ampoule is formulated around Ascorbic Acid to soften the look of wrinkles and brighten dull-looking skin.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPEG-12 Dimethicone Crosspolymer
EmulsifyingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientLaureth-23
CleansingLaureth-4
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Carboxymethyl Cocoyl Glycine
ChelatingRetinyl Sunflowerseedate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingRetinol
Skin ConditioningMyristoyl Nonapeptide-3
Skin ConditioningMyristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin ConditioningMyristoyl Tetrapeptide-13
Skin ConditioningLysophosphatidic Acid
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Linoleate
AntioxidantEthyl Linoleate
EmollientEthyl Formate
PerfumingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPolyaminopropyl Biguanide
PreservativeTromethamine
BufferingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-12 Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone, Laureth-23, Laureth-4, Pentylene Glycol, Acetyl Carboxymethyl Cocoyl Glycine, Retinyl Sunflowerseedate, Polysorbate 80, Retinol, Myristoyl Nonapeptide-3, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Myristoyl Tetrapeptide-13, Lysophosphatidic Acid, Ascorbyl Linoleate, Ethyl Linoleate, Ethyl Formate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Tromethamine
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolDipropylene 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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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