This smoothing serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 to refine skin texture and soften the look of wrinkles.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Sh-Oligopeptide-1 and Sodium DNA to soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sponge
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Polyacrylate-13
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyisobutene
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Oligopeptide-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polyacrylate-13, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Beta-Glucan, Arachidyl Alcohol, Polyisobutene, Allantoin, Behenyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Arachidyl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Triethylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sponge
Skin ConditioningApricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Honokiol
Antioxidant
Magnolol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGarcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Calcium Silicate
AbsorbentSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Sodium Silicate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pinus Densiflora Extract
Antioxidant
Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment
Skin ConditioningSodium DNA
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Apricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Lecithin, Acetyl Glutamine, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Honokiol, Magnolol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract, Cetyl Phosphate, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Bacillus, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Sodium Phytate, Calcium Silicate, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Sodium Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Resveratrol, Tocopherol, Pinus Densiflora Extract, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment, Sodium DNA
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
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 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed sponge comes from marine or freshwater sponges. This is the main ingredient for "spicules".
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. They help push active ingredients into the skin to enhance the penetration and efficacy of these ingredients.
Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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
