Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

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Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum Versus The INKEY List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum

Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum Versus The INKEY List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum Detailed comparison of Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum versus The INKEY List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum. This hydrating serum is formulated around Poly

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Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum Versus The INKEY List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum Detailed comparison of Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum versus The INKEY List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum. This hydrating serum is formulated around Polyglutamic Acid and Ectoin to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier. This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Ectoin and Panthenol to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. No concerns Water Glycerin Butylene Glycol Polyglutamic Acid 1,2-Hexanediol Ectoin Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract Erythritol Phenoxyethanol Propanediol Xanthan Gum Caprylyl Glycol Carbomer Ethylhexylglycerin Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Tocopherol Citric Acid Sodium Hydroxide Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Polyglutamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ectoin, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Erythritol, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Coconut Alkanes Ectoin 2% Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate Sodium Hyaluronate Maltodextrin Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate Panthenol Cetearyl Alcohol Sclerotium Gum Glyceryl Stearate Jojoba Esters Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Sodium Citrate Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate Triethyl Citrate Pentylene Glycol Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer Ceramide NP Hyaluronic Acid Ceramide AP Cholesterol Phytosphingosine Behenic Acid Sodium Levulinate Polyglycerin-3 Potassium Sorbate Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate Ceramide EOP Water, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coconut Alkanes, Ectoin 2%, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Panthenol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Citric Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Glycerin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Triethyl Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ceramide NP, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Behenic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Polyglycerin-3, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Ceramide EOP These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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. Ectoin is a compound found naturally in some species of bacteria. It can be synthetically created for skincare use. This ingredient is an osmolyte; Osmolytes help organisms survive osmotic shock (it protects them from extreme conditions). It does this by influencing the properties of biological fluids within cells. When applied to the skin, ectoin helps bind water molecules to protect our skin. The water forms a sort of armor for the parts of our skin cells, enzymes, proteins, and more. Besides this, ectoin has many uses in skincare: A study from 2004 found ectoin to counteract the damage from UV-A exposure at different cell levels. It has also been shown to protect skin against both UV-A, UV-B rays, infrared light, and visible light. Studies show ectoin to have dual-action pollution protection: first, it protects our skin from further pollution damage. Second, it helps repair damage from pollution. In fact, ectoin has been shown to help with: Fun fact: In the EU, ectoin is used in inhalation medication as an anti-pollution ingredient. Ectoin is a highly stable ingredient. It has a wide pH range of 1-9. Light, oxygen, and temperature do not affect this ingredient. The chemical name for this ingredient is Tetrahydromethylpyrimidine Carboxylic Acid. Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that: The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absor