Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster Versus Medik8 Liquid Peptides

Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster Versus Medik8 Liquid Peptides Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster versus Medik8 Liquid Peptides. This pore-care treatment is formulated around Niacinamide and Acetyl Glucosamine to refine the loo

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Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster Versus Medik8 Liquid Peptides Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster versus Medik8 Liquid Peptides. This pore-care treatment is formulated around Niacinamide and Acetyl Glucosamine to refine the look of pores and refine skin texture. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Carnosine and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. No concerns Water Niacinamide Acetyl Glucosamine Ascorbyl Glucoside Butylene Glycol Phospholipids Sodium Hyaluronate Allantoin Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract Glycerin Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Ubiquinone Epigallocatechin Gallate Beta-Glucan Panthenol Carnosine Genistein Citric Acid Sodium Citrate Sodium Hydroxide Xanthan Gum Disodium EDTA Ethylhexylglycerin Phenoxyethanol Water, Niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Phospholipids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Glycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ubiquinone, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Carnosine, Genistein, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol Inulin Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide Carbomer Polysorbate 20 Caprylyl Glycol Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin Dunaliella Salina Extract 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 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 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. Carnosine is a dipeptide made from two amino acids. This ingredient helps: Glycation is the process of sugars binding to and damaging proteins. Too much sugar in our skin can lead to damaged collagen, contributing to factors of aging. Carnosine is water-soluble and is not able to travel deeper layers of skin. This leads to some doubt about whether it can boost collagen in skin, since collagen is located in the deeper layers of skin. Fun fact: Carnosine can be naturally found in our muscles and brain. 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. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure. Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations. Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a