Skin science article
Peach & Lily Peptide Pro Firming Moisturizer Versus Blume Meltdown Gel Cream for Acne-Prone Skin
Peach & Lily Peptide Pro Firming Moisturizer Versus Blume Meltdown Gel Cream for Acne-Prone Skin This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Collagen Extract and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin. This barrier-repair moi
Peach & Lily Peptide Pro Firming Moisturizer Versus Blume Meltdown Gel Cream for Acne-Prone Skin
This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Collagen Extract and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Butylene Glycol
Sorbitol
Glycerin
Cetearyl Alcohol
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
1,2-Hexanediol
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Hydrogenated Polydecene
C10-18 Triglycerides
Stearic Acid
Cetearyl Glucoside
Collagen Extract
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Dipeptide-2
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Copper Tripeptide-1
Tripeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Nonapeptide-1
Hexapeptide-9
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Serine
Methionine
Cysteine
Arginine
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Polyglutamic Acid
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic Acid
Squalane
Sodium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Glyceryl Glucoside
Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Panax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Adenosine
Tocopherol
Sorbitan Stearate
Carbomer
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
Phellinus Linteus Extract
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Glucose
Ethylhexylglycerin
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Pentylene Glycol
Caprylyl Glycol
Tropolone
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Water, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polydecene, C10-18 Triglycerides, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside, Collagen Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Dipeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Nonapeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Serine, Methionine, Cysteine, Arginine, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polyglutamic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Glucoside, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Panax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Stearate, Carbomer, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glucose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tropolone, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Propanediol
Diisostearyl Malate
Diheptyl Succinate
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Niacinamide
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Behenyl Alcohol
Maltol
Tocopheryl Acetate
Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract
Sodium Lactate
Centella Asiatica Extract
PCA
Ceramide NP
Ceramide As
Ceramide AP
Ceramide Ns
Cholesterol
Ceramide EOP
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Gossypium Hirsutum Extract
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Sodium PCA
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Polyquaternium-80
Sorbitan Isostearate
Saccharide Isomerate
Maltodextrin
Citric Acid
Aspartic Acid
Sodium Citrate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Glycine
Alanine
Dipropylene Glycol
Valine
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Benzoate
Glyceryl Stearate
Proline
Threonine
Isoleucine
Sucrose Distearate
Histidine
Phenylalanine
Water, Propanediol, Squalane, Diisostearyl Malate, Diheptyl Succinate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Behenyl Alcohol, Maltol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract, Sodium Lactate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Arginine, PCA, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ns, Cholesterol, Ceramide EOP, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gossypium Hirsutum Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium PCA, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Polyquaternium-80, Sorbitan Isostearate, Saccharide Isomerate, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Aspartic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycine, Alanine, Dipropylene Glycol, Serine, Valine, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Proline, Threonine, Isoleucine, Sucrose Distearate, Histidine, Phenylalanine
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.
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
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.
Serine is a non-essential amino acid (your body makes it on its own!). It is a major player in your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Serine is one of your NMF's most abundant components that works as a skin-identical humectant. Its hydroxyl group grabs onto water molecules to boost hydration without any heaviness or occlusion.
Research on a hydrogel with serine confirmed this serine got delivered to your stratum corneum and demonstrated enhanced skin moisturization.
Interestingly serine also helps your skin produce filaggrin, a protein that keeps your skin barrier strong and used to create collagen.
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.
Squalane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
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!