Ingredient glossary
Adenosine
On your shelf ✓What Adenosine does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Adenosine
In short: Adenosine delivers anti-aging support and firming, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is moderate.
- What it does
- Anti aging, firming
- Best for
- Most skin types
- Evidence
- Moderate
The molecule
The Glow take
Genuinely worth a spot in your routine.
When your goal is softening fine lines and keeping skin firm, Adenosine pulls genuine weight, with a solid amount of evidence behind it. Gentle enough that most skin types can reach for it.
— Maya
What it does
- anti aging
- firming
- wrinkle smoothing
moderate evidenceRandomized trials of adenosine-containing creams report statistically significant but moderate reductions in wrinkle parameters and improved elasticity compared with placebo though some studies show the carrier dominating the effect.
On a label: usually effective at 0.04-0.1%.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- normal
- dry
- photoaged
Approach with care
No specific group flagged to avoid it.
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskLow
How it fits each skin type
- DrySuits
- CombinationSuits
- OilySuits
- SensitiveSuits
Often chosen for photoaged.
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
- peptides
- retinoids
- niacinamide
Adenosine, answered
Is Adenosine safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Adenosine is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with anything, if you are unsure it is worth a quick word with your doctor or midwife.
Who should avoid Adenosine?
No specific group is flagged to avoid Adenosine. It is well tolerated by most skin. Still, introduce anything new one product at a time.
What concentration of Adenosine actually works?
Adenosine tends to do its job in the 0.04 to 0.1% range. Much lower and it is likely underdosed.
This, for every label you own
One ingredient is easy. A full label is where it gets confusing. The Ingredient Decoder reads any product and tells you the honest truth, ingredient by ingredient.