This barrier-repair toner is formulated around Centella Asiatica Extract and Panthenol to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.
This barrier-repair ampoule is formulated around Bifida Ferment Lysate and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract 10%
CleansingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventPanthenol 1%
Skin ConditioningBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantAscorbic Acid Polypeptide
AntioxidantAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningStreptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingPyrus Malus Juice
Skin ConditioningCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantTrilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
ChelatingCitric Acid
BufferingLecithin
EmollientEscin
TonicDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCarnosine
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract 10%, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Panthenol 1%, Beta-Sitosterol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Copper Tripeptide-1, Nonapeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Tocopherol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Pyrus Malus Juice, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Lecithin, Escin, Dipropylene Glycol, Carnosine
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate 20%
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantAureobasidium Pullulans Ferment
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Dipeptide-10
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCorthellus Shiitake Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingTrametes Versicolor Extract
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhysalis Alkekengi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEpigallocatechin Gallate
AntioxidantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientAlgin
MaskingForsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract
AntioxidantDioscorea Oppositifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate 20%, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-10, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Corthellus Shiitake Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Trametes Versicolor Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Allantoin, Panthenol, Physalis Alkekengi Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Algin, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Dioscorea Oppositifolia Root Extract, Methyl Gluceth-20, Caffeine, Caprylyl Glycol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Adenosine
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 GlycolCopper Tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu) is a skin repairing ingredient said to boost collagen, improve firmness, and support skin regeneration.
It is a complex made up of a naturally occurring peptide (glycine-histidine-lysine) and copper, an essential trace element.
While studying wound healing, researchers noticed GHK-Cu stimulated hair follicle enlargement and growth by keeping hair in its active growth phase longer. This has made it a promising ingredient for hair regrowth treatments.
Some people have reported increased facial hair. While GHK-Cu can make your hair follicles bigger, it usually doesn’t turn soft, barely-visible facial hairs into thick, dark ones.
Anecdotal reports suggest that overusing copper peptides might lead to premature aging due to excess free copper or enzyme imbalances. This claim isn’t backed by large-scale studies.
Unfortunately, there are limited human studies for this ingredient. While early results are promising, many studies are either small, in-vitro, or not rigorously controlled.
For example, there is a 1998 study that explored the effects of copper tripeptide, vitamin C, tretinoin, and melatonin on skin repair and collagen synthesis.
After one month, increased procollagen production was seen in 7 out of 10 participants using copper tripeptide (more than those using vitamin C, melatonin, or tretinoin.
While the study was exploratory, it offers early evidence that copper tripeptide may support collagen production. Larger, well-designed trials are still needed to confirm its potential and understand individual responses.
Read more about other common types of peptides here:
Learn more about Copper Tripeptide-1Glycerin (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-1 (aka Pal-GHK) is a synthetic signal peptide made of three amino acids attached to palmitic acid.
That fatty acid attachment is the key: it boosts the peptide's ability to penetrate the skin barrier. This puts it closer to the dermal cells where it can actually make a difference.
Once there, it acts as a matrikine, a signaling peptide that prompts fibroblasts to produce more collagen, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.
In vitro studies show it can boost collagen production in skin cells even when UV-damaged skin samples were treated with it at a tiny concentration (it almost fully restored dermal collagen at 5ppm). It achieved this at 100x lower concentration than retinoic acid, which needed 500 ppm to do the same thing.
Human clinical data is promising, but modest:
A study of 23 female volunteers found a small but statistically significant increase (~4%) in skin thickness after treatment at 4 ppm.
A separate small trial of 15 women showed statistically significant reductions in wrinkle length, depth, and skin roughness after applying it twice daily for four weeks.
You'll likely see Pal-GHK paired with Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 as part of the Matrixyl 3000 complex.
Fungal acne note:
Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.
Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about Panthenol