This anti-aging lip moisturizer is formulated around Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
This anti-aging lip moisturizer is formulated around Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2 and Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate lips.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C13-16 Isoparaffin
Solvent
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
Emollient
Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientMethyl Nicotinate
SoothingEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPongamia Glabra Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningCommiphora Mukul Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Pilosa Extract
Skin ConditioningAnemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Propylmethylmethoxybenzofuran
Skin ConditioningPlukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Propylene Carbonate
SolventButylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingSucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C13-16 Isoparaffin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Methyl Nicotinate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucomannan, Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Propylmethylmethoxybenzofuran, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Trihydroxystearin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Propylene Carbonate, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Sucrose Cocoate, Tocopherol, BHT, Water
Polybutene
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Garcinia Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Euterpe Oleracea Sterols
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Irvingia Gabonensis Kernel Butter
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dicalcium Phosphate
Abrasive
Tribehenin
Emollient
Propylene Carbonate
SolventStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingParfum
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPolybutene, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Cera Microcristallina, Silica, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Garcinia Indica Seed Butter, Euterpe Oleracea Sterols, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Irvingia Gabonensis Kernel Butter, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Lactic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Sorbitan Isostearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Octyldodecanol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Tribehenin, Propylene Carbonate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Parfum, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEthylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is an ester of palmitic acid, a C16 fatty acid that falls within the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
You'll see this one rated 4 comedogenic all over the internet. That number isn't from a single study, and the actual research is more interesting.
The original rating comes from 1980s rabbit ear tests (which are a shaky basis for anything). But Ethylhexyl Palmitate is one of the few ingredients with real human data behind it. A 2021 controlled trial found this ingredient increased microcomedones by an average of 365% over four weeks.
Just know that test used the pure ingredient under an occlusive pad on back skin; most products use it at much lower levels alongside other ingredients and plenty of people use those with no issue.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitatePalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 is a synthetic lipopeptide. This just means it's a short chain of six amino acids with a palmitic acid molecule attached to one end.
The palmitoyl group increases the lipophilicity, helping it penetrate the lipid-rich outer layer of skin more effectively.
Once inside, it helps with keeping skin springy and firm. It works by mimicking the skin repair signals your skin naturally sends out when it's damaged and telling it to kick into rebuild mode.
Studies have shown it can help strengthen the skin barrier as well so it's useful beyond just anti-aging.
In vitro studies suggest it can switch on genes that help skin cells grow, move around, and rebuild skin structure. Just keep in mind most of the strong evidence is from lab studies rather than large-scale clinical trials.
Lab studies suggest it can switch on genes that help skin cells grow, move around, and rebuild skin structure.
This ingredient is usually used at very low concentrations (0.002% in leave-on products).
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.
Palmitoyl 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.
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate is a synthetic emollient and "skin-feel" ingredient that spreads well and leaves a non-sticky finish with high gloss.
In makeup, it also doubles as a pigment-wetting agent for better color payoff.
It's a well-vetted ingredient for safety and does not penetrate into skin due to its large molecule size.
Because it's a long-chain fatty acid ester, this ingredient may not be fungal acne or Malassezia safe.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl TetraisostearateThis ingredient is a solvent. It helps dissolve active ingredients and alter the texture of products.
Propylene Carbonate is commonly used in makeup and with clay, such as montmorillonite or bentonite.
Studies show this ingredient to be safe for cosmetics. When it is undiluted, it can cause skin irritation. (It is always diluted in skincare and makeup). This ingredient is water-soluble.
Propylene Carbonate is created from propylene glycol and carbonic acid.
Learn more about Propylene CarbonateSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateStearalkonium Hectorite is a clay-derived ingredient used to thicken a product and help create a gel-like texture.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol
