Skin science article
Peach & Lily Peptide Pro Firming Moisturizer Versus Sunday Riley Ice Ceramide Moisturizing Cream
Peach & Lily Peptide Pro Firming Moisturizer Versus Sunday Riley Ice Ceramide Moisturizing Cream 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 Sunday Riley Ice Ceramide Moisturizing Cream
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 Chondrus Crispus Extract and Squalane to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
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
Chondrus Crispus Extract
C13-15 Alkane
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Lanolin Alcohol
Tri (Polyglyceryl-3/Lauryl) Hydrogenated Trilinoleate
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Ceramide NP
Ceramide EOP
Ceramide AP
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract
Fructooligosaccharides
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Pimpinella Anisum Fruit Extract
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Punica Granatum Sterols
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
Triethyl Citrate
Tapioca Starch
Maltol
Polyquaternium-80
Sodium Phytate
Magnesium Stearate
Magnesium Aspartate
Phytosphingosine
Cholesterol
Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Zinc Gluconate
Copper Gluconate
Phenoxyethanol
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Xanthan Gum
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
Water, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Squalane, C13-15 Alkane, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Lanolin Alcohol, Tri (Polyglyceryl-3/Lauryl) Hydrogenated Trilinoleate, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Pimpinella Anisum Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Sterols, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Triethyl Citrate, Tapioca Starch, Maltol, Polyquaternium-80, Sodium Phytate, Magnesium Stearate, Magnesium Aspartate, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
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.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
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.
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%.
This ingredient is also known as apricot extract. It has skin conditioning properties and is rich in vitamins and minerals.
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.
This is a lab-made ingredient that plays a huge role in improving the texture of a formula.
It's used to thicken watery gel-creams, prevent water + oil from separating, and give products a silky, non-greasy glide.
Safety-wise, a panel of independent toxicologists reviewed this ingredient and concluded it to be safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration.
A separate sensitization patch test on humans also showed no evidence of allergic reactivity, and a true allergy to this ingredient is considered rare.
Typical usage levels range from 0.015%-3% in leave-on products and 0.078%-3.2% in rinse-off products.
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.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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!