Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

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MEDI-PEEL Melanon X Cream Versus Biossance Squalane + Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum

MEDI-PEEL Melanon X Cream Versus Biossance Squalane + Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum This brightening treatment is formulated around Niacinamide and Alpha-Arbutin to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin. This hydrating serum is formu

MEDI-PEEL Melanon X Cream Versus Biossance Squalane + Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum

This brightening treatment is formulated around Niacinamide and Alpha-Arbutin to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.

This hydrating serum is formulated around Squalane and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and soften the look of wrinkles.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Butylene Glycol

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Betaine

Hydrogenated Polydecene

Dimethicone

Niacinamide

Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate

Cetearyl Alcohol

Glyceryl Stearate

Beeswax

Alpha-Arbutin

Broussonetia Kazinoki Callus Culture Extract

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Extract

PEG-100 Stearate

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Sorbitan Stearate

Sucrose Cocoate

Cysteine

Ascorbic Acid

Carnitine

Tranexamic Acid

Aletris Farinosa Root Extract

Biota Orientalis Leaf Extract

Zanthoxylum Schinifolium Leaf Extract

Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract

Hamamelis Virginiana Extract

Morus Alba Bark Extract

Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract

Trichosanthes Kirilowii Root Extract

Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Hydroxyacetophenone

Ozokerite

Tocopheryl Acetate

Arginine

Ethylhexylglycerin

Carbomer

Sodium Hyaluronate

Sh-Oligopeptide-1

Sh-Oligopeptide-2

Sh-Polypeptide-1

Sh-Polypeptide-3

Sh-Polypeptide-16

Adenosine

Xanthan Gum

Disodium EDTA

Parfum

1,2-Hexanediol

Glycerin

Propanediol

Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Beeswax, Alpha-Arbutin, Broussonetia Kazinoki Callus Culture Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Stearate, Sucrose Cocoate, Cysteine, Ascorbic Acid, Carnitine, Tranexamic Acid, Aletris Farinosa Root Extract, Biota Orientalis Leaf Extract, Zanthoxylum Schinifolium Leaf Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Trichosanthes Kirilowii Root Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ozokerite, Tocopheryl Acetate, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-3, Sh-Polypeptide-16, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Propanediol

Squalane

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Copper Tripeptide-1

Acmella Oleracea Extract

Ectoin

Tetrapeptide-30

Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52

Copper PCA

Panthenol

Sodium Polyglutamate

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract

Passiflora Incarnata Flower Extract

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract

Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract

Corallina Officinalis Extract

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Acacia Senegal Gum

Phenoxyethanol

Citric Acid

Caprylyl Glycol

Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Ectoin, Tetrapeptide-30, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52, Copper PCA, Panthenol, Sodium Polyglutamate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol

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Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

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.

Similar Comparisons

The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

Connected source records selected through this article’s public topic index.

01

Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

Ingredient index

Ingredients Side-by-side

  1. 01Water
  2. 02Butylene Glycol
  3. 03Glycerin
  4. 04Hexyldecanol
  5. 05Hexyldecyl Laurate
  6. 06Squalane
  7. 07Tocopheryl Acetate
  8. 08C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
  9. 09Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract
  10. 10C20-22 Alcohols
  11. 11Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
  12. 12Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
  13. 13Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
  14. 14Caprylyl Glycol
  15. 15Parfum
  16. 16Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
  17. 17Sodium Dehydroacetate
  18. 18Hyaluronic Acid
  19. 19Adenosine
  20. 20Sodium Hydroxide
Source · skinsort.com
02

Product index

Related product references

03

Comparison edit

Read side by side