Skin science article
Neurogan Health GHK-Cu Copper Peptide Versus Minimalist Multi-Peptides 10%
Neurogan Health GHK-Cu Copper Peptide Versus Minimalist Multi-Peptides 10% This anti-aging serum is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Copper Tripeptide-1 to soften the look of wrinkles and fade the look of dark spots. This anti-aging serum is f
Neurogan Health GHK-Cu Copper Peptide Versus Minimalist Multi-Peptides 10%
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Copper Tripeptide-1 to soften the look of wrinkles and fade the look of dark spots.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Copper Tripeptide-1 4%
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Glycerin
Kojic Acid
Carica Papaya Seed Oil
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Ethylhexylglycerin
Phenoxyethanol
Tocopherol
Niacinamide
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Copper Tripeptide-1 4%, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Kojic Acid, Carica Papaya Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Niacinamide, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Water
Butylene Glycol
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Acetyl Glutamine
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Pentylene Glycol
Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
Lecithin
Caprylyl Glycol
Carbomer
Polysorbate 20
Pullulan
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Xanthan Gum
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
Sclerotium Gum
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Acetyl Glutamine, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Pentylene Glycol, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Pullulan, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Sclerotium Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
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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.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.