StriVectin Peptight Tightening & Brightening Face Serum Versus COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum

StriVectin Peptight Tightening & Brightening Face Serum Versus COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

Glycerin

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Myristyl Nicotinate

PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate

Butylene Glycol

PEG-40 Stearate

Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone

Dimethicone

Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer

Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract

Xanthium Sibiricum Fruit Extract

Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract

Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract

Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract

Oryza Sativa Bran Extract

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Cyathea Cumingii Leaf Extract

Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract

Alpinia Officinarum Root Extract

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract

Acetyl Hexapeptide-1

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Tetrapeptide-21

Althaea Officinalis Root Extract

Helianthus Annuus Extract

Ceramide Ng

Brassica Campestris Seed Oil

Adenosine

Phospholipids

Polysorbate 80

Polyimide-1

Sorghum Bicolor Stalk Juice

Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate

Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate

Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate

Xylitol

Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Pullulan

Aminomethyl Propanol

1,2-Hexanediol

Glyceryl Caprylate

Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Sodium Gluconate

Sorbitan Oleate

Tocopherol

Tetrasodium EDTA

Lecithin

Xanthan Gum

Cinnamic Acid

Levulinic Acid

Sodium Levulinate

Caprylic Acid

Isohexadecane

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

Parfum

Caprylyl Glycol

Maltodextrin

Poloxamer 338

Silica

Magnesium Sulfate

Phenoxyethanol

Benzoic Acid

Sodium Benzoate

Potassium Sorbate

Citric Acid

Benzyl Alcohol

Limonene

Geraniol

Citral

Linalool

Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Myristyl Nicotinate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Butylene Glycol, PEG-40 Stearate, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Xanthium Sibiricum Fruit Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Cyathea Cumingii Leaf Extract, Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract, Alpinia Officinarum Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tetrapeptide-21, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Ceramide Ng, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Adenosine, Phospholipids, Polysorbate 80, Polyimide-1, Sorghum Bicolor Stalk Juice, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Xylitol, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pullulan, Aminomethyl Propanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Gluconate, Sorbitan Oleate, Tocopherol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Cinnamic Acid, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Caprylic Acid, Isohexadecane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Maltodextrin, Poloxamer 338, Silica, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Geraniol, Citral, Linalool

Dipropylene Glycol

Pentylene Glycol

Niacinamide

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Copper Tripeptide-1

Sh-Polypeptide-121

Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate

Oligopeptide-68

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8

Allantoin

Sodium Hyaluronate

Acetyl Glucosamine

Serine

Alanine

Glycine

Threonine

Arginine

Proline

Betaine

Sodium PCA

Sodium Lactate

PCA

Glutamic Acid

Lysine Hcl

Dextran

Glycine Soja Oil

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Ethylhexylglycerin

Polyquaternium-51

Disodium EDTA

T-Butyl Alcohol

Sodium Oleate

Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-121, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Oligopeptide-68, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Betaine, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Tocopherol, Dextran, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Polyquaternium-51, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Oleate

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.

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.

It is a:

Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin

Emollient, helping to soften skin

Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas

Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives

Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that your body already makes in every cell. In skincare, it acts mainly as a skin conditioning and anti-aging agent.

The way it works is fairly well mapped out:

Your skin has cells called fibroblasts that build collagen (the stuff that keeps skin firm and smooth). Adenosine basically flips a switch on these cells that tells them to get to work making more collagen and other proteins. These cells slow down on their own as skin ages, so Adenosine helps give them a little nudge to keep going.

The clinical backing is pretty solid too.

A blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 126 women aged 45-65 tested a 0.1% cream twice daily and found real improvements in crow's feet and frown lines using a precise 3D skin-mapping technique; these changes showed up by week 3 and held at 2 months.

A later study using Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches reported gains in wrinkle depth, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration.

On concentrations, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has set 0.04% as the approved functional anti-wrinkle level. You'll typically see this ingredient used somewhere in the 0.04-0.1% range since it works at low doses.

This ingredient has been found safe for cosmetics with the data showing no irritation or sensitization.

Overall, this is a great ingredient for any anti-aging routine and has no photosensitizing effect, so it suits both AM and PM use.

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.

Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:

Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.

Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.

Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).

Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.

Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.

However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.

Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.

In skincare formulas, citric acid can:

While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.

Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.

Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.

However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.

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 Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.

It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.

This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.

Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.

Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.

A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.

Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.

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!

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

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