PrescriptSkin Collagen, Peptides, and Honey Serum Versus MEDI-PEEL Extra Super 9 Plus Pore Tox Ampoule
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Honey and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
This pore-care ampoule is formulated around Niacinamide and Gluconolactone to refine the look of pores and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Honey
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carum Petroselinum Extract
Skin ConditioningEuphrasia Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Polysorbate 20, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Honey, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Glycerin, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Ascorbic Acid, Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Carum Petroselinum Extract, Euphrasia Officinalis Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingZea Mays Kernel Extract
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Distearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
ChelatingSodium Citrate
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Chelating
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butyl Avocadate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Fructan
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Glucose
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract
AstringentCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientPolygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Aluminum Sucrose Octasulfate
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Isohexadecane
EmollientSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Gardenia Florida Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Tromethamine, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Pvp, Squalane, Adenosine, Sucrose Distearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Gluconolactone, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butyl Avocadate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Fructan, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Glucose, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lactic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Aluminum Sucrose Octasulfate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Isohexadecane, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Gardenia Florida Flower Extract, Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract comes from the root commonly known as carrot (the orange kind we eat!).
This extract contains beta-carotene, a pigment responsible for giving plants the orange color. Beta-carotene is a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants may help reduce the signs of aging.
Beta-carotene is the reason we turn orange if we eat too many carrots.
It should be noted coming into contact with the leaves of wild carrots can cause skin irritation. The sap causes phytophotodermatitis, or sensitivity exposed to sunlight.
This ingredient is created using the edible parts of the carrot.
Learn more about Daucus Carota Sativa Root ExtractEthylhexylglycerin 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-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.
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 Water
