Minimalist L-Ascorbic Acid 8% Lip Treatment Balm Versus Skintific Peptide Brightening Lip Serum

Minimalist L-Ascorbic Acid 8% Lip Treatment Balm Versus Skintific Peptide Brightening Lip Serum

This brightening lip moisturizer is formulated around Ascorbic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.

This lip moisturizer is formulated around Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 to hydrate lips.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Glycerin

Petrolatum

Octyldodecanol

Propanediol

Propylene Glycol

Ascorbic Acid

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Isoamyl Laurate

Persea Gratissima Butter

Cetyl Diglyceryl Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone

C10-18 Triglycerides

Euphorbia Cerifera Wax

Cera Microcristallina

Ozokerite

Hydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid

Tocopheryl Acetate

Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide

Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide

Coffea Arabica Seed Oil

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil

BHT

Glycerin, Petrolatum, Octyldodecanol, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol, Ascorbic Acid, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Isoamyl Laurate, Persea Gratissima Butter, Cetyl Diglyceryl Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, C10-18 Triglycerides, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Cera Microcristallina, Ozokerite, Hydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, BHT

Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate

Triisostearyl Citrate

C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters

Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate

Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer

Ricinus Communis Seed Oil

Squalane

Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline

Sodium Hyaluronate

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Tocopherol

Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Ceramide NP

Ceramide Ns

Ceramide As

Ceramide EOP

Ceramide AP

Parfum

Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer

Ethylhexyl Palmitate

Disodium EDTA

Tribehenin

Sorbitan Isostearate

Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Petrolatum, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Octyldodecanol, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Triisostearyl Citrate, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Squalane, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Parfum, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Disodium EDTA, Tribehenin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin

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.

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.

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer. Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient and texture enhancer.

In one study, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene showed better skin hydration levels than Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. As an emollient, it helps keep your skin soft and hydrated by trapping moisture in.

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is often used as a mineral oil replacement.

Octyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).

It is:

You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.

This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.

Regarding fungal acne: In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.

Petrolatum is more commonly known as petroleum jelly. It is created by mixing waxes and mineral oils.

This ingredient is effective at reducing water loss by 99%. This is because it is an occlusive. Occlusives create a hydrophobic barrier on the skin to prevent evaporation. This property makes it great for hydrating dry skin.

Pro tip: Use occlusives, such as this ingredient, on damp skin for the best results.

The quality or origin of petrolatum is only known when disclosed by the brand. Most cosmetic petrolatum has gone through several purification stages.

Another benefit of occlusives is it protects your skin against infection or allergies.

Petrolatum is fungal acne safe. It is a hydrocarbon with no fatty acid structure, so Malassezia cannot metabolize it. In-vitro studies support negligible growth stimulation as well.

It's also worth noting that petrolatum has a comedogenic rating of 0. In updated rabbit ear testing (and in human testing), petrolatum was found to be not comedogenic. This means it didn’t promote comedone formation in standard models.

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