Superdrug Me+ Peptide Moisturiser Versus Superdrug Me+ Ceramide Moisturiser

Superdrug Me+ Peptide Moisturiser Versus Superdrug Me+ Ceramide Moisturiser

This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Butyrospermum Parkii Butter and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.

This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and balance excess oil.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Isoamyl Laurate

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Propanediol

Glycerin

Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate

Behenyl Alcohol

Sodium Acrylates Copolymer

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38

Phenoxyethanol

Saccharide Isomerate

Lecithin

Tocopheryl Acetate

Caprylyl Glycol

Citric Acid

Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin

Sodium Citrate

Water, Isoamyl Laurate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol, Glycerin, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sodium Citrate

Propylene Glycol

Cetearyl Alcohol

Glyceryl Stearate

Butylene Glycol

Sorbitan Stearate

Dimethicone

Isohexadecane

Sodium Polyacrylate

Betaine

Xanthan Gum

PEG-100 Stearate

Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate

Sodium PCA

Sodium Lactate

Disodium EDTA

Sodium Hyaluronate

Arginine

Aspartic Acid

PCA

Ceramide NP

Glycine

Alanine

Cholesterol

Ceramide AP

Phytosphingosine

Serine

Valine

Carbomer

Ethylhexylglycerin

Isoleucine

Proline

Threonine

Histidine

Phenylalanine

Ceramide EOP

Water, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Stearate, Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Betaine, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Ceramide NP, Glycine, Alanine, Cholesterol, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Serine, Valine, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Ceramide EOP

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.

Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate is a synthetic powder used as an absorbent, thickener, and anti-caking agent.

As an absorbent, it is great at mattifying skin by soaking up the oil. This is why you'll find it in a range of products from makeup to moisturizers.

This ingredient is considered a modified starch. Starch can also be found naturally in plants.

One study from 1991 found that 5% of this ingredient enhanced titanium dioxide SPF by as much as 40%. The study found 1% titanium dioxide had a 5.6 SPF and adding 5% of aluminum starch octenylsuccinate boosted it to an SPF of 8.1

Although “aluminum” in an ingredient name can raise red flags for some consumers, the form and usage context matter significantly. For typical topical applications, there is no substantial evidence of health risks - such as cancer, neurotoxicity, or systemic “aluminum overload.”

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).

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.

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Tocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.

Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.

It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.

One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.

Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.

Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.

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.

Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.

The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.

Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.

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