Versus

Mary & May 6 Peptide Complex Serum Versus MEDI-PEEL Peptide 9 Volume All In One Essence

Serum
Essence
Korean Brand South Korea
Korean Brand South Korea

Updated on August 29, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 12 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain peptides

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Peptide 9 Volume All In One Essence

Water

Skin Conditioning

Methylpropanediol

Solvent

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Emollient
1 / 2

Methyl Perfluoroisobutyl Ether

Solvent

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Methyl Perfluorobutyl Ether

Solvent

Cyclopentasiloxane

Emollient
Silicon Icon

Niacinamide

Smoothing
Niacinamide IconGood for Oily Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate

Emollient

Cetearyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 1 Fatty Alcohol IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Cyclohexasiloxane

Emollient
Silicon Icon

Elaeis Guineensis Oil

Emollient
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Decyl Glucoside

Cleansing

Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate

Cleansing

Stearic Acid

Cleansing
2-3 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glyceryl Stearate

Emollient
1 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

PEG-100 Stearate

0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Betaine

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Hydroxyethyl Urea

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Elaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil

Emollient
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Hydroxyacetophenone

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Dimethicone

Emollient
1 / 0 Silicon Icon

Arginine

Masking
Good for Scar Healing IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

Carbomer

Emulsion Stabilising
1 / 0

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Emulsifying
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Propanediol

Solvent
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Juniperus Communis Fruit Extract

Perfuming
Fragrance Icon

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract

Perfuming
Fragrance Icon

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Skin Conditioning

Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer

Humectant

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Allantoin

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Ammonium Lactate

Buffering

Urea

Buffering
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Parfum

Masking
Fragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Adenosine

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Laureth-23

Cleansing
3 / 0

Propylene Glycol

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Disodium EDTA

Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans

Humectant

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Antimicrobial
Antioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate

Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil

Emollient
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract

Antimicrobial

Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water

Masking
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Fructan

Skin Conditioning

Benzyl Glycol

Solvent

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Desamido Collagen

Skin Conditioning
Helps with Anti-Aging Icon

Hydrolyzed Elastin

Emollient

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Emollient
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Decylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Sodium Polyacrylate

Absorbent
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Trideceth-6

Emulsifying

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Hydrogenated Polydecene

Emollient

Glyceryl Polymethacrylate

Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation Icon

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Raspberry Ketone

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Hyaluronic Acid

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Sorbitan Laurate

Emulsifying
1-2 / 1-2 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Nonoxynol-9

Emulsifying

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Emulsion Stabilising

Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester

Skin Conditioning
Peptide IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Astaxanthin

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Ethyl Hexanediol

Solvent

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Humectant
Peptide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Copper Tripeptide-1

Skin Conditioning
Peptide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Oligopeptide-29

Antioxidant
Peptide IconAntioxidant Icon

Oligopeptide-32

Antiseborrhoeic
Peptide Icon

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Skin Conditioning
Peptide IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Skin Conditioning
Peptide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Skin Conditioning
Peptide IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Skin Conditioning
Peptide IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Palmitoyl Oligopeptide

Cleansing
Peptide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Methyl Perfluoroisobutyl Ether, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Perfluorobutyl Ether, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Betaine, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Elaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dimethicone, Arginine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Carbomer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Propanediol, Juniperus Communis Fruit Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Ammonium Lactate, Urea, Parfum, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Laureth-23, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water, Fructan, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Desamido Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Decylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Trideceth-6, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Raspberry Ketone, Hyaluronic Acid, Sorbitan Laurate, Nonoxynol-9, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Astaxanthin, Ethyl Hexanediol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Oligopeptide-29, Oligopeptide-32, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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 
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

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 Glycol
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin
Masking, Skin Conditioning

Arginine is an amino acid that is important for human development. Your body uses is it to produce hair keratin and skin collagen.

As a cosmetic ingredient, Arginine has antioxidant properties and can also help repair damaged skin. This ingredient is derived either synthetically or from animals.

Arginine isn't fungal acne safe when used in the presence of other lipids (fats, fatty acids, oils, esters, etc). Oils and fats occur naturally within the skin, so take caution when using Arginine if you're prone to fungal acne.

Learn more about Arginine
Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.

A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.

Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Skin Conditioning

Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.

Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.

Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.

In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.

Learn more about Adenosine
Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol
Skin Conditioning

Copper Tripeptide-1 is a peptide naturally found in body fluids. Peptides are building blocks for protein.

Studies show this ingredient tells our body to create more collagen and elastin. Collagen is a protein that makes connective tissue. Elastin is the protein responsible for giving our skin elasticity. Our bodies start to slow down collagen and elastin production with age.

Boosting collagen and elastin production can help create a healthier skin barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier means having firm and hydrated skin. It's a win-win situation!

This ingredient helps with scar healing. This is because it breaks down damaged collagen, the main component of scar tissue. It may also help with reducing sunspots, acne scars, and uneven skin tone.

On top of all this, Copper Tripeptide-1 is also an antioxidant. Antioxidants help the body fight off free-radicals. Free radicals are molecules that damage our cells, such as pollution and tobacco smoke.

More benefits: Copper Tripeptide-1 helps maintain tissues in blood vessels and promote natural hyaluronic acid in skin.

Read more about other common types of peptides here:

Learn more about Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning

You might know this ingredients as Matrixyl, a famous peptide.

Peptides are building blocks for protein. Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 consists of five amino acids. These amino acids include: 2 lysines, 2 threonines, and serine

This ingredients tells our body to create more collagen. Collagen is a protein that makes connective tissue. Boosting collagen production leads to a healthier skin barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier means having firm and hydrated skin.

Thus, Matrixyl may help improve the look of wrinkles.

Read more about other common types of peptides here:

Learn more about Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is a 3-amino acid peptide. Peptides are building blocks for protein.

This ingredient is a signal peptide, meaning it tells our skin to create collagen. Collagen is a protein that makes connective tissue. Boosting collagen production leads to a healthier skin barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier means having firm and hydrated skin.

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 can help reduce wrinkles and make the skin look more youthful.

Read more about other common types of peptides here:

Learn more about Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

When to use

149 Routines
41% use in am
59% use in pm
87% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
20 Routines
50% use in am
50% use in pm
95% use every day

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Mary & May 6 Peptide Complex Serum 17 ingredients

3.0 /5
from 5 ratings
Light (3) Absorbs Well (2) Great Value (2)
Lienay's avatar

Lienay

2 months ago
Review

Don’t get the bad reviews, yes, it is such thin and watery serum, but it delivers many peptides and visibly improves signs of aging. I do use other products for hydration and moisture and actually appreciate this doesn’t have any HA or other things as it’s easy to go overboard with those if you have sensitive skin. I like it, hasn’t caused any irritation or breakouts , does what it’s supposed to Show more

#great value
#light
#absorbs well
#no scent
_liiaaanne's avatar

_liiaaanne

6 months ago
Review

thin texture

#broke me out
#light
#no scent

MEDI-PEEL Peptide 9 Volume All In One Essence 84 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
Great Value (1) Hydrating (1) Light Scent (1)
pamsipam's avatar

Plamena Mihaylova

11 months ago
Review

Switched up my routine a bit because this essence has all the ingredients I tried to combine. It feels great, leaves the skin shiny/glowy and creates a protective barrier that keeps gunk away.

#great value
#hydrating
#sticky
#light scent