Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Medik8 Liquid Peptides Versus Elemis Peptide4 Antioxidant Hydra-Serum

Medik8 Liquid Peptides Versus Elemis Peptide4 Antioxidant Hydra-Serum Detailed comparison of Medik8 Liquid Peptides versus Elemis Peptide4 Antioxidant Hydra-Serum. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Carnosine and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 to soften the lo

This source-based comparison does not add ratings or recommend a winner.

Medik8 Liquid Peptides Versus Elemis Peptide4 Antioxidant Hydra-Serum Detailed comparison of Medik8 Liquid Peptides versus Elemis Peptide4 Antioxidant Hydra-Serum. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Carnosine and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This hydrating serum is formulated around Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate skin and soften the look of wrinkles. Water Glycerin Butylene Glycol Inulin Sodium Hyaluronate Panthenol Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide Carnosine Carbomer Polysorbate 20 Caprylyl Glycol Phenoxyethanol Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin Dunaliella Salina Extract Ethylhexylglycerin Citric Acid Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 Sodium Benzoate Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Tetrapeptide-21 Pentapeptide-18 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Pantolactone Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Glyceryl Caprylate Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer Polyvinyl Alcohol Phenylpropanol Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14 Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate Potassium Sorbate Xanthan Gum Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Inulin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Carnosine, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Benzoate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tetrapeptide-21, Pentapeptide-18, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Pantolactone, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Phenylpropanol, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum Coco-Caprylate Steareth-2 Cetearyl Alcohol Hydroxyacetophenone Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract Steareth-21 Propanediol Diheptyl Succinate Disodium EDTA Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer Parfum Lunaria Annua Seed Oil Sodium Hydroxide Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid Hydrolyzed Verbascum Thapsus Flower Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract Crocus Sativus Flower Extract Saccharide Hydrolysate Limonene Cananga Odorata Flower Oil Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil Juniperus Mexicana Oil Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Tocopherol Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract Ascorbic Acid Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein Eugenol Linalool 1,2-Hexanediol Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil Polianthes Tuberosa Flower Extract Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil Citrus Aurantium Flower Oil Cymbopogon Nardus Oil Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil Myrocarpus Fastigiatus Oil Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil Water, Coco-Caprylate, Glycerin, Steareth-2, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Steareth-21, Propanediol, Diheptyl Succinate, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Lunaria Annua Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Verbascum Thapsus Flower, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Crocus Sativus Flower Extract, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Limonene, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Be the first to review These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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). 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. 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 you