Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

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Marin Lip Treatment Versus Peach & Lily Collagen Cushion Peptide Lip Balm

Marin Lip Treatment Versus Peach & Lily Collagen Cushion Peptide Lip Balm This barrier-repair lip moisturizer is formulated around Squalane to strengthen the lip barrier and hydrate lips. This anti-aging lip moisturizer is formulated around Butyrospermum Parki

Marin Lip Treatment Versus Peach & Lily Collagen Cushion Peptide Lip Balm

This barrier-repair lip moisturizer is formulated around Squalane to strengthen the lip barrier and hydrate lips.

This anti-aging lip moisturizer is formulated around Butyrospermum Parkii Butter and Collagen Extract to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate lips.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Polyisobutene

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Squalane

Synthetic Beeswax

Cocos Nucifera Oil

Hydroxystearic Acid

Euphorbia Cerifera Wax

Aroma

Hemocyanin

Glyceryl Adipate

Glyceryl Stearate

Tocopherol

Stevioside

Polyisobutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Synthetic Beeswax, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hydroxystearic Acid, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Aroma, Hemocyanin, Glyceryl Adipate, Glyceryl Stearate, Tocopherol, Stevioside

Diisostearyl Malate

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate

Microcrystalline Wax

Octyldodecanol

Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate

Tribehenin

Synthetic Wax

Collagen Extract

Polyglutamic Acid

Sodium Hyaluronate

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Hyaluronic Acid

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Water

Glycerin

Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Camellia Japonica Seed Oil

Ceramide Ns

Ceramide NP

Ceramide AP

Ceramide As

Ceramide EOP

Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide

Chlorella Ferment

Bisabolol

Butylene Glycol

Prunus Persica Fruit Extract

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Copper Tripeptide-1

Hexapeptide-9

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Dipeptide-2

Nonapeptide-1

Tripeptide-1

Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Ethylhexylglycerin

Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil

Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil

Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil

Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract

1,2-Hexanediol

Allantoin

Disteardimonium Hectorite

Glyceryl Caprylate

Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Caprylyl Glycol

Pentylene Glycol

Polyisobutene, Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Microcrystalline Wax, Octyldodecanol, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Tribehenin, Synthetic Wax, Squalane, Collagen Extract, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Water, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Chlorella Ferment, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Dipeptide-2, Nonapeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Stevioside, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol

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.

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%.

Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer made from isobutene.

It is a film-forming agent and helps bind ingredients together.

Polyisobutene is not absorbed by the skin.

Squalane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).

It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.

This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.

Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.

Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.

No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).

Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.

This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.

Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.

Read more about squalene with an "e".

Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.

The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.

Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.

A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.

The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.

We don't have a description for Stevioside yet.

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.

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Ingredients, questions
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Comparison edit

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