Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

The Ordinary Multi Peptides + Copper Peptide 1% Versus CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum

The Ordinary Multi Peptides + Copper Peptide 1% Versus CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum Detailed comparison of The Ordinary Multi Peptides + Copper Peptide 1% versus CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum USA. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Lactococcus F

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The Ordinary Multi Peptides + Copper Peptide 1% Versus CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum Detailed comparison of The Ordinary Multi Peptides + Copper Peptide 1% versus CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum USA. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Lactococcus Ferment Lysate and Copper Tripeptide-1 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This smoothing serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Retinol to refine skin texture and fade the look of dark spots. Water Glycerin Lactococcus Ferment Lysate Copper Tripeptide-1 Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Pentapeptide-18 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer Sodium Hyaluronate Allantoin Glycine Alanine Serine Valine Isoleucine Proline Threonine Histidine Phenylalanine Arginine Aspartic Acid Trehalose Fructose Glucose Maltose Urea Sodium PCA PCA Sodium Lactate Citric Acid Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin Sodium Chloride Sodium Hydroxide Butylene Glycol Pentylene Glycol Acacia Senegal Gum Xanthan Gum Carbomer Polysorbate 20 Dimethyl Isosorbide Sodium Benzoate Caprylyl Glycol Ethylhexylglycerin Phenoxyethanol Chlorphenesin Water, Glycerin, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Trehalose, Fructose, Glucose, Maltose, Urea, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin Propanediol Dimethicone Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate Niacinamide Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Hydrogenated Lecithin Potassium Phosphate Ceramide NP Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Cetearyl Alcohol Behentrimonium Methosulfate Dimethiconol Lecithin Sodium Citrate Retinol Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Cholesterol Alcohol Isopropyl Myristate Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Phytosphingosine Water, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Dimethiconol, Lecithin, Sodium Citrate, Retinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Pentylene Glycol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin 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. 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