Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Skin science article

Niod Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1 (CAIS3) Versus The Potions Peptide Ampoule

Niod Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1 (CAIS3) Versus The Potions Peptide Ampoule This anti-aging serum is formulated around Tripeptide-29 and Tripeptide-1 to soften the look of wrinkles. This anti-aging ampoule is formulated around Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Pal

Niod Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1 (CAIS3) Versus The Potions Peptide Ampoule

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Tripeptide-29 and Tripeptide-1 to soften the look of wrinkles.

This anti-aging ampoule is formulated around Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Tripeptide-29

Bis(Tripeptide-1) Copper Acetate

Tripeptide-1

Myristoyl Nonapeptide-3

Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Glycogen

Propanediol

Pentylene Glycol

Dextran

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Ethoxydiglycol

Isoceteth-20

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Caprylyl Glycol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Phenoxyethanol

Chlorphenesin

Water, Glycerin, Tripeptide-29, Bis(Tripeptide-1) Copper Acetate, Tripeptide-1, Myristoyl Nonapeptide-3, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Glycogen, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Dextran, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ethoxydiglycol, Isoceteth-20, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

Butylene Glycol

Dehydroxanthan Gum

Tranexamoyl Dipeptide-22

Hexapeptide-9

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-22

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Copper Tripeptide-1

Water, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Tranexamoyl Dipeptide-22, Hexapeptide-9, Tripeptide-29, Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-22, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Copper Tripeptide-1

Reviews

Be the first to review

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

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%.

Tripeptide-1, also known as GHK), is a small, three-amino-acid peptide made up of glycine, histidine, and lysine.

This ingredient is a signal peptide and tell your skin to start producing fresh collagen, elastin, and other key structural proteins. This helps maintain firmness and reduces the look of fine-lines/wrinkles.

GHK is also unique because is also acts as a carrier peptide. It binds to and transports copper ions (forming the complex GHK-Cu). This form has been studied for decades and is known to stimulate wound healing, boost antioxidant defenses, and promote collagen/elastin synthesis.

In-vitro studies show both GHK and GHK-CU increase fibroblast activity that enhances the production of collagen, elastin, fibronectin, and other extracellular matrix components.

Both of these compounds also help balance enzymes that control collagen breakdown.

Human studies (in-vivo) using GHK-Cu creams have reported visible improvements to skin density, elasticity, and wrinkle depth after several weeks of use.

A small clinical study also found topical collagen tripeptide improved wrinkle appearance and skin elasticity in women after four weeks.

While these results are promising, most research is based on GHK-Cu or its derivatives rather than Tripeptide-1 alone (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is a famous derivative of GHK). However, the consensus still supports GHK as a potent skin-signaling molecule that can encourage regeneration and maintain youthful looking skin.

Fun fact: GHK is a naturally occurring fragment of type 1 collagen that can be found in human plasma, saliva, and urine.

Tripeptide-29 is a synthetic peptide designed to support collagen production. It has skin conditioning properties and may help with improving skin texture, fine-lines, and hydration.

Due to its small molecular size, it can easily penetrate skin.

What makes this peptide unique is its purity and availability in a concentrated powder. Traditional peptides are derived from broken-down collagen in a process that produces many random peptides.

The manufacturer's lab tests show 3% of this ingredient increased collagen type I synthesis by 400% within 48 hours. However, this was done in-vitro (not tested on humans).

While the theory behind it is promising, its real-world effectiveness remains unproven, making it an interesting option for skincare enthusiasts but not a guaranteed solution.

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!

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 Explained

  1. 01These ingredients are found in both products.
  2. 02Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
  3. 03Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
  4. 04Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
  5. 05Your 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.
  6. 06Aquaporin-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.
  7. 07This 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.
  8. 08Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
  9. 09Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
  10. 10Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
  11. 11It 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.
  12. 12On 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.
  13. 13Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
  14. 14You'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.
  15. 15Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
  16. 16Safety-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.
  17. 17Adverse 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.
  18. 18Water. 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.
  19. 19So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
  20. 20You'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!
Source · skinsort.com
02

Product index

Related product references

03

Comparison edit

Read side by side