Skin science article
Cvara Botanicals Majafirm Treatment Serum Versus COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum
Cvara Botanicals Majafirm Treatment Serum Versus COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum This anti-aging serum is formulated around Centella Asiatica Extract to soften the look of wrinkles. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Acetyl Hexap
Cvara Botanicals Majafirm Treatment Serum Versus COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Centella Asiatica Extract to soften the look of wrinkles.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Isododecane
Glycerin
Cetyl Esters
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Acetyl Heptapeptide-9
Gold
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50
Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52
Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Centella Asiatica Extract
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil
Squalane
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Jojoba Esters
Allantoin
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Oil
Cetearyl Alcohol
Butylene Glycol
Xanthan Gum
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Phytosterols
Lecithin
Cetyl Alcohol
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Ceteareth-20
Tocopheryl Acetate
Ceteth-10
Laureth-4
Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3
Dimethicone
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Citric Acid
Polyvinyl Alcohol
1,2-Hexanediol
Vanillin
Hydroxyacetophenone
Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isododecane, Glycerin, Cetyl Esters, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Acetyl Heptapeptide-9, Gold, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52, Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil, Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Jojoba Esters, Allantoin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Phytosterols, Lecithin, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Ceteareth-20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceteth-10, Laureth-4, Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3, Dimethicone, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Citric Acid, Polyvinyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Vanillin, Hydroxyacetophenone
Dipropylene Glycol
Pentylene Glycol
Niacinamide
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Copper Tripeptide-1
Sh-Polypeptide-121
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Oligopeptide-68
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Acetyl Glucosamine
Serine
Alanine
Glycine
Threonine
Arginine
Proline
Betaine
Sodium PCA
Sodium Lactate
PCA
Glutamic Acid
Lysine Hcl
Tocopherol
Dextran
Glycine Soja Oil
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Ethylhexylglycerin
Adenosine
Polyquaternium-51
Disodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
T-Butyl Alcohol
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Oleate
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-121, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Oligopeptide-68, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Betaine, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Tocopherol, Dextran, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Polyquaternium-51, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Oleate
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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
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.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
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.
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.