Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

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The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA Versus The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum

The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA Versus The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum Detailed comparison of The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA versus The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum. This brightening serum is formulated around Alpha-Arbutin and Hydrolyzed Sodiu

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The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA Versus The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum Detailed comparison of The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA versus The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum. This brightening serum is formulated around Alpha-Arbutin and Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin. This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 to soften the look of wrinkles and fade the look of dark spots. Water Alpha-Arbutin Propanediol Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate Ergothioneine Polysorbate 20 Citric Acid Sodium Citrate Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Metabisulfite Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Ethoxydiglycol Phenoxyethanol Chlorphenesin Water, Alpha-Arbutin, Propanediol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ergothioneine, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Metabisulfite, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin Glycerin Butylene Glycol Dipropylene Glycol Acetyl Glucosamine Niacinamide Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5 Myristoyl Nonapeptide-3 Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate Caffeine Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside Gallyl Glucoside Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract Silanetriol Arginine Pentylene Glycol Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone Propyl Gallate Maltodextrin Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin Hydroxyethylcellulose Xanthan Gum Glycolic Acid Dehydroacetic Acid Ethylhexylglycerin Benzyl Alcohol Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Myristoyl Nonapeptide-3, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Caffeine, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Gallyl Glucoside, Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract, Silanetriol, Arginine, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Propyl Gallate, Maltodextrin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Polysorbate 20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol. Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria. Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin. Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin. 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. Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!). It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome. On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive. Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10). You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own. Typical use conc