This anti-aging serum is formulated around Copper Tripeptide-1 and Panthenol to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningPentapeptide-3
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trehalose, Panthenol, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Carbomer, Arginine, Copper Tripeptide-1, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Ceramide NP, Ectoin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Lactate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Nonapeptide-1, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Hexapeptide-9, Pentapeptide-3, Polyglutamic Acid, Polysorbate 20
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDiglycerin
HumectantInulin
Skin ConditioningSilybin
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin ConditioningTetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-37
Skin ConditioningBenzoyl Dipeptide-18 D-Phenylalanyl Arginyl D-Tryptophan Dipropylamide Mesylate
Skin ConditioningN-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-72 Amide
Skin ConditioningTrifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-28
Skin ConditioningHexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
Skin ConditioningTetrapeptide-30
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Sodium Phytate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientLecithin
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingIsomalt
HumectantDextran
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Diglycerin, Inulin, Silybin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Benzoyl Dipeptide-18 D-Phenylalanyl Arginyl D-Tryptophan Dipropylamide Mesylate, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-72 Amide, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-28, Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate, Tetrapeptide-30, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Phytate, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acacia Senegal Gum, Isomalt, Dextran, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid
Reviews
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-8Butylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5 is a synthetic signal lipopeptide. This just means it is a three amino acid chain bolted onto a palmitic acid tail so it can slip through the skin's lipid barrier.
This peptide has a "build more, lose less" approach.
It's designed to mimic the collagen-stimulating activity in your skin by copying a snippet of one of your skin's own matrix proteins. This nudges fibroblasts into making more collagen while inhibiting the enzyme that breaks down skin protein.
The manufacturer's in vivo study of 45 volunteers found 1% and 2.5% reduced the appearance of wrinkles by 7% and 12% respectively, after using it twice daily for 84 days.
This is in the expected range for peptides; they're slow and cumulative actives and not overnight fixers.
Typical use levels range from 1-3% and this ingredient gets along with pretty much everything.
On the fungal acne front:
Although palmitic acid sits in the chain length that Malassezia can feed on, this ingredient has it locked in an amine bond. This makes it hard for Malassezia to access as a source of food, and therefore fungal acne safe.
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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum