Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Medik8 Liquid Peptides Versus Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum

Medik8 Liquid Peptides Versus Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum Detailed comparison of Medik8 Liquid Peptides versus Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Carnosine and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 to soften the look o

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Medik8 Liquid Peptides Versus Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum Detailed comparison of Medik8 Liquid Peptides versus Sulwhasoo First Care Activating 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 Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to hydrate skin. 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 Alcohol Betaine PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer Glyceryl Polymethacrylate Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Tromethamine Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract Parfum Honey Juglans Regia Seed Extract Theobroma Cacao Extract Dextrin Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract Portulaca Oleracea Extract Limonene Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Disodium EDTA Phenyl Trimethicone Chondrus Crispus Linalool Biosaccharide Gum-1 Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract Natto Gum Citronellol Citral Propylene Glycol Geraniol Chlorphenesin Hydrogenated Lecithin BHT Sodium Dehydroacetate Sorbic Acid Tocopherol Water, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Glycerin, Betaine, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Parfum, Honey, Juglans Regia Seed Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Dextrin, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Limonene, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Phenyl Trimethicone, Chondrus Crispus, Linalool, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Natto Gum, Citronellol, Citral, Propylene Glycol, Geraniol, Chlorphenesin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, BHT, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Tocopherol These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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. 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. 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.