MEDI-PEEL Bakuchiol Miracle Firming Ampoule Versus Skin Functional Peptides + Cu Complex Anti-Ageing Complex

MEDI-PEEL Bakuchiol Miracle Firming Ampoule Versus Skin Functional Peptides + Cu Complex Anti-Ageing Complex

This anti-aging ampoule is formulated around Niacinamide and Bakuchiol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Pentapeptide-18 and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to soften the look of wrinkles.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Glycerin

Butylene Glycol

Diglycerin

1,2-Hexanediol

Niacinamide

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Arginine

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate

Adenosine

Disodium EDTA

Sodium Hyaluronate

Polyquaternium-51

Bakuchiol

Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil

Xylitylglucoside

Lilium Candidum Callus Culture Extract

Anhydroxylitol

Xylitol

Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract

Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Coffea Arabica Seed Extract

Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract

Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract

Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract

Castanea Crenata Shell Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Glucose

Centella Asiatica Root Extract

Aronia Melanocarpa Fruit Extract

Centella Asiatica Extract

Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract

Resveratrol

Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract

Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract

Pueraria Lobata Root Extract

Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract

Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Ethylhexylglycerin

Hexapeptide-9

Nonapeptide-1

Copper Tripeptide-1

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Oligopeptide

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2

Madecassoside

Asiaticoside

Parfum

CI 17200

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Diglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyquaternium-51, Bakuchiol, Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Xylitylglucoside, Lilium Candidum Callus Culture Extract, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glucose, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Aronia Melanocarpa Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Resveratrol, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Parfum, CI 17200

Betaine

Pentapeptide-18

Glycosaminoglycans

Propanediol

Bis-PEG-8 Dimethicone

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38

Laminaria Japonica Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Polyglutamic Acid

Aminobutyric Acid

Urea

Polyporus Umbellatus Extract

Phenoxyethanol

Water, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Pentapeptide-18, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Copper Tripeptide-1, Glycosaminoglycans, Propanediol, Bis-PEG-8 Dimethicone, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Polyglutamic Acid, Aminobutyric Acid, Urea, Polyporus Umbellatus Extract, Phenoxyethanol

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (also known as Argireline) is a synthetic hexapeptide that is often called a "topical Botox alternative".

It works by mimicking how Botox relaxes muscles; it interferes with the signaling process that tells your facial muscles to contract. This can help soften expression lines like forehead wrinkles or crow's feet over time.

The comparison to Botox does have limits because the molecule is water-loving and relatively large.

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 has a hard time absorbing deeply enough through the skin's outer barrier to actually reach the muscles.

So whether it truly works the way Botox does at a biological level is still up for debate, but early clinical outcomes are fairly encouraging.

A 12 week human study of a multi-ingredient regimen containing this ingredient saw:

While some studies have observed improvements in wrinkle appearance, it is important to note that more consistent results are seen in multi-ingredient formulations (vs just Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 alone).

Some research studies also used higher concentrations (up to 10%) while this ingredient is usually found in concentrations up to 0.005% in leave-on formulations.

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.

Copper Tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu) is a skin repairing ingredient known for its ability to boost collagen, improve firmness, and support skin regeneration.

It is a complex made up of a naturally occurring peptide (glycine-histidine-lysine) and copper, an essential trace element.

While studying wound healing, researchers noticed GHK-Cu stimulated hair follicle enlargement and growth by keeping hair in its active growth phase longer. This has made it a promising ingredient for hair regrowth treatments.

Some people have reported increased facial hair. While GHK-Cu can make your hair follicles bigger, it usually doesn’t turn soft, barely-visible facial hairs into thick, dark ones.

Anecdotal reports suggest that overusing copper peptides might lead to premature aging due to excess free copper or enzyme imbalances. This claim isn’t backed by large-scale studies.

Unfortunately, there are limited human studies for this ingredient. While early results are promising, many studies are either small, in-vitro, or not rigorously controlled.

For example, there is a 1998 study that explored the effects of copper tripeptide, vitamin C, tretinoin, and melatonin on skin repair and collagen synthesis.

After one month, increased procollagen production was seen in 7 out of 10 participants using copper tripeptide (more than those using vitamin C, melatonin, or tretinoin.

While the study was exploratory, it offers early evidence that copper tripeptide may support collagen production. Larger, well-designed trials are still needed to confirm its potential and understand individual responses.

Read more about other common types of peptides here:

Palmitoyl Oligopeptide is a form of peptide. It is created by blending peptides with palmitic acid. Peptides are building blocks for protein.

This ingredients tells our body to create more collagen. Collagen is a protein that makes connective tissue. Boosting collagen production leads to a healthier skin barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier means having firm and hydrated skin.

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (formerly Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3) is a synthetic peptide. Its main job is to fight what researchers call "inflammaging".

"Inflammaging" is the slow, low-grade chronic inflammation that quietly breaks down collagen as we age.

This ingredient calms down a specific inflammation signal in your skin cells (called IL-6). When left unchecked, this signal triggers enzymes that break down collagen and elastin.

Clinical testing showed statistically significant improvements in:

Studies also found the more of this ingredient used, the more your skin produces Collagen I, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.

You'll likely see this ingredient paired with Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 in the well-known Matrixyl 3000 complex for enhanced anti-aging effects.

A 3% concentration applied twice daily for two months showed meaningful skin rejuvenation results in clinical panels.

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.

Palmitoyl 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.

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!

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