Skin science article
Cos De BAHA EGF Peptide 5ppm Cica Madeca Soside Serum Versus Good Molecules Super Peptide Serum
Cos De BAHA EGF Peptide 5ppm Cica Madeca Soside Serum Versus Good Molecules Super Peptide Serum This calming serum is formulated around Centella Asiatica Extract and Sh-Oligopeptide-1 to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier. This anti-aging serum is fo
Cos De BAHA EGF Peptide 5ppm Cica Madeca Soside Serum Versus Good Molecules Super Peptide Serum
This calming serum is formulated around Centella Asiatica Extract and Sh-Oligopeptide-1 to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Acetyl Octapeptide-3 to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Extract
Propanediol
Water
Glycerin
Betaine
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Lecithin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Panthenol
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Allantoin
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Polyacrylate
1,2-Hexanediol
Caprylyl Glycol
Tropolone
Xanthan Gum
Adenosine
Madecassoside 80%
Centella Asiatica Extract, Propanediol, Water, Glycerin, Betaine, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tropolone, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Madecassoside 80%
Diheptyl Succinate
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Glycine
Ethylhexylglycerin
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Copper Tripeptide-1
Tocopherol
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Glycine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Sodium Hyaluronate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tocopherol
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Glycerin (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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
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!
Xanthan 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.