Wardah Biomimetic Peptide Spray On Serum Versus ELFORMULA Antiox-C Serum Spray

Wardah Biomimetic Peptide Spray On Serum Versus ELFORMULA Antiox-C Serum Spray

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Tripeptide-1 to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier.

This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthenol to brighten dull-looking skin and calm redness.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate

Dipropylene Glycol

Niacinamide

Diphenyl Dimethicone

Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract

Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil

Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil

Saccharum Officinarum Extract

Glycerin

Saccharide Isomerate

Allantoin

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Sh-Polypeptide-123

Tripeptide-1

Zea Mays Oil

Hexapeptide-9

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract

Citrus Limon Fruit Extract

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Acer Saccharum Extract

Cellulose Gum

Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract

Butylene Glycol

Propylene Glycol

Beta-Carotene

Tocopherol

Xanthophylls

Citric Acid

Sodium Citrate

Hydroxyacetophenone

Potassium Hydroxide

Parfum

Chlorphenesin

Water, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Glycerin, Saccharide Isomerate, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sh-Polypeptide-123, Tripeptide-1, Zea Mays Oil, Hexapeptide-9, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Cellulose Gum, Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Beta-Carotene, Tocopherol, Xanthophylls, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Potassium Hydroxide, Parfum, Chlorphenesin

Glycereth-26

Pentylene Glycol

Panthenol

Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract

Glyceryl Glucoside

1,2-Hexanediol

Betaine

Sodium Chloride

Houttuynia Cordata Extract

Hyaluronic Acid

Sodium Hyaluronate

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Adenosine

Tocopheryl Acetate

Ethylhexylglycerin

Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil

Hydroxyethyl Urea

Propanediol

Persea Gratissima Oil

Disodium EDTA

Olea Europaea Fruit Oil

Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol

Panax Ginseng Root Extract

Ethyl Hexanediol

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract

Bellis Perennis Flower Extract

Phenoxyethanol

Tremella Fuciformis Extract

Octanediol

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Sodium Palmitoyl Proline

Corallina Officinalis Extract

Melia Azadirachta Bark Extract

Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil

Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract

Magnesium Chloride

Calcium Gluconate

Pyridoxine Hcl

Bifida Ferment Lysate

Tuber Magnatum Extract

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Yeast Extract

Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Cyanocobalamin

Morus Alba Fruit Extract

Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract

Dioscorea Oppositifolia Root Extract

Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract

Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract

Hypochlorous Acid

Water, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Adenosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Propanediol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tocopherol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Octanediol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Melia Azadirachta Bark Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Gluconate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Yeast Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cyanocobalamin, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Dioscorea Oppositifolia Root Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Hypochlorous Acid

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.

Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.

It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.

Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.

This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.

Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.

Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.

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.

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.

Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.

This ingredient helps:

Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.

As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.

Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.

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.

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.

It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.

The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.

The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.

Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.

One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).

This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.

On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.

Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate is a lightweight synthetic emollient that also helps improve how a product feels and spreads.

In a formula, it's a workhorse that:

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics and found to be a non-ocular (eye) irritant at 100% in rabbits.

Usage levels vary depending on product type; industry surveys report it around 2.2% in baby products, 19.5% in hair sprays, and 1-20% in skincare.

Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.

And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.

You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.

In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.

If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.

In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).

Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.

Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.

The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.

Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.

Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.

The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).

Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.

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!

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