Skin science article
Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum Versus Acure Radically Rejuvenating Face Mask
Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum Versus Acure Radically Rejuvenating Face Mask This smoothing serum is formulated around Lactic Acid and Sh-Oligopeptide-1 to refine skin texture and soften the look of wrinkles. This wash off mask is made w
Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum Versus Acure Radically Rejuvenating Face Mask
This smoothing serum is formulated around Lactic Acid and Sh-Oligopeptide-1 to refine skin texture and soften the look of wrinkles.
This wash off mask is made with Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Kaolin for a rinse-off oil-control boost.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Glycerin
Lactic Acid
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Squalane
Sodium Hydroxide
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Sodium PCA
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Tocotrienols
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14
Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Tripeptide-1
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Propanediol
Sodium Hyaluronate
Panthenol
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Sodium Lactate
PCA
Alanine
Arginine
Glycine
Histidine
Isoleucine
Phenylalanine
Proline
Serine
Threonine
Valine
Adenosine
Nymphaea Alba Root Extract
Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
Symphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract
Dextran
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Linoleic Acid
Linolenic Acid
Butylene Glycol
Acetyl Glutamine
Coconut Alkanes
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Pentylene Glycol
Isomalt
Lecithin
Xanthan Gum
Aspartic Acid
Phytosphingosine
Phospholipids
Glycine Soja Sterols
Tocopherol
Citric Acid
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Phenoxyethanol
Sodium Benzoate
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
Polysorbate 20
Caprylyl Glycol
Phenylpropanol
Chlorphenesin
Carbomer
Glyceryl Caprylate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Water, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Squalane, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Sodium PCA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Tocotrienols, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Tripeptide-1, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Alanine, Arginine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Valine, Adenosine, Nymphaea Alba Root Extract, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Symphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract, Dextran, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Glutamine, Coconut Alkanes, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Pentylene Glycol, Isomalt, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Aspartic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Phospholipids, Glycine Soja Sterols, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Kaolin
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Glyceryl Laurate
Sodium Levulinate
Cellulose Gum
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Carrageenan
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Jojoba Esters
Iron Oxides
Chlorella Pyrenoidosa Extract
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil
Argania Spinosa Callus Culture Extract
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Punica Granatum Extract
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Aegle Marmelos Root Powder
Nelumbo Nucifera Callus Culture Extract
Potassium Sorbate
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycerin, Kaolin, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Glyceryl Laurate, Sodium Levulinate, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Jojoba Esters, Iron Oxides, Chlorella Pyrenoidosa Extract, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Argania Spinosa Callus Culture Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Aegle Marmelos Root Powder, Nelumbo Nucifera Callus Culture Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Isomalt, Lecithin, Sodium Benzoate, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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.
We don't have a description for Isomalt yet.
Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
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!