Skin science article
MediCube Exosome Cica Ampoule Versus Plated Skin Science Intense Serum
MediCube Exosome Cica Ampoule Versus Plated Skin Science Intense Serum This calming ampoule is formulated around Centella Asiatica Leaf Water and Niacinamide to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Panthenol
MediCube Exosome Cica Ampoule Versus Plated Skin Science Intense Serum
This calming ampoule is formulated around Centella Asiatica Leaf Water and Niacinamide to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Panthenol and Hyaluronic Acid to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Water
Glycerin
Butylene Glycol
Methylpropanediol
Glycereth-26
Niacinamide
1,2-Hexanediol
Betaine
Carbomer
Tromethamine
Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Allantoin
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Panthenol
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Coptis Japonica Extract
Centella Asiatica Root Extract
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Centella Asiatica Extract
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
Propanediol
Madecassoside
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Extract
Ectoin
Dipropylene Glycol
Centella Asiatica Leaf
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Pentylene Glycol
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
Vegetable Amino Acids
Saccharide Isomerate
Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Hyaluronic Acid
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Asiaticoside
Madecassic Acid
Asiatic Acid
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Panthenol, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Propanediol, Madecassoside, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Extract, Ectoin, Dipropylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Leaf, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Pentylene Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vegetable Amino Acids, Saccharide Isomerate, Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Hyaluronic Acid, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid
Human Platelet Extract
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Caprylyl Glycol
Hydrolyzed Gelatin
Arginine
Silanetriol
Water, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Human Platelet Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Gelatin, Arginine, Silanetriol
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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.
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
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.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Pentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
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!