MEDI-PEEL Mezzo Filla Eye Serum Versus MEDI-PEEL Peptide 9 Volumn Lif-Tox Eye Cream

MEDI-PEEL Mezzo Filla Eye Serum Versus MEDI-PEEL Peptide 9 Volumn Lif-Tox Eye Cream

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Adenosine to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.

This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to soften the look of wrinkles.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Butylene Glycol

Alcohol

Niacinamide

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose

Pullulan

Glycosyl Trehalose

Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate

1,2-Hexanediol

Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer

Sodium Hyaluronate

Propylene Glycol

Gellan Gum

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract

Algae Extract

Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract

Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract

Sophora Flavescens Root Extract

Thuja Orientalis Extract

Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract

Taraxacum Officinale Extract

Allantoin

Panthenol

Adenosine

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Sh-Oligopeptide-1

Sh-Oligopeptide-2

Sh-Polypeptide-1

Sh-Polypeptide-3

Sh-Polypeptide-16

Polylactic Acid

C12-14 Sec-Pareth-7

Origanum Vulgare Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Lavandula Angustifolia Extract

Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract

Thymus Vulgaris Extract

Porphyridium Cruentum Extract

Tromethamine

Ethylhexylglycerin

Glyceryl Caprylate

Carbomer

Cyclopentasiloxane

Dimethiconol

Chondrus Crispus Powder

Synthetic Fluorphlogopite

Agar

Titanium Dioxide

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Mica

CI 77491

Tin Oxide

Coceth-7

PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate

Phenoxyethanol

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Disodium EDTA

Parfum

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Niacinamide, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Pullulan, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propylene Glycol, Gellan Gum, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Algae Extract, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Thuja Orientalis Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Adenosine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-3, Sh-Polypeptide-16, Polylactic Acid, C12-14 Sec-Pareth-7, Origanum Vulgare Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Carbomer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Agar, Titanium Dioxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Mica, CI 77491, Tin Oxide, Coceth-7, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Phenoxyethanol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Parfum

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate

Salvia Officinalis Extract

Dipropylene Glycol

Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate

Cyclohexasiloxane

Cetearyl Alcohol

Stearic Acid

Olea Europaea Fruit Oil

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Tremella Fuciformis Extract

Pimpinella Anisum Seed Extract

Salmon Egg Extract

Juniperus Oxycedrus Wood Extract

Carnosine

Hydrolyzed Soy Protein

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Copper Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Tripeptide-1

Hexapeptide-9

Nonapeptide-1

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Centella Asiatica Extract

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Golden Extract

Rosa Canina Fruit Extract

Chamomilla Recutita Extract

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Lactobacillus

Salix Alba Bark Extract

Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract

Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract

Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf Extract

Portulaca Oleracea Extract

Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Potassium Hyaluronate

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Royal Jelly Extract

Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil

Squalane

Ceramide NP

Tocopheryl Acetate

Betaine

Glyceryl Stearate

Sodium Polyacrylate

Ethylhexyl Stearate

Trideceth-6

Pentylene Glycol

Caprylyl Glycol

Hydroxyacetophenone

Water, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Salvia Officinalis Extract, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Pimpinella Anisum Seed Extract, Salmon Egg Extract, Butylene Glycol, Juniperus Oxycedrus Wood Extract, Carnosine, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Golden Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Royal Jelly Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Squalane, Ceramide NP, Tocopheryl Acetate, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Tromethamine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Trideceth-6, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Parfum

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.

It is a:

Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin

Emollient, helping to soften skin

Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas

Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives

Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that your body already makes in every cell. In skincare, it acts mainly as a skin conditioning and anti-aging agent.

The way it works is fairly well mapped out:

Your skin has cells called fibroblasts that build collagen (the stuff that keeps skin firm and smooth). Adenosine basically flips a switch on these cells that tells them to get to work making more collagen and other proteins. These cells slow down on their own as skin ages, so Adenosine helps give them a little nudge to keep going.

The clinical backing is pretty solid too.

A blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 126 women aged 45-65 tested a 0.1% cream twice daily and found real improvements in crow's feet and frown lines using a precise 3D skin-mapping technique; these changes showed up by week 3 and held at 2 months.

A later study using Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches reported gains in wrinkle depth, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration.

On concentrations, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has set 0.04% as the approved functional anti-wrinkle level. You'll typically see this ingredient used somewhere in the 0.04-0.1% range since it works at low doses.

This ingredient has been found safe for cosmetics with the data showing no irritation or sensitization.

Overall, this is a great ingredient for any anti-aging routine and has no photosensitizing effect, so it suits both AM and PM use.

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.

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.

Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.

One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.

Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.

Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.

Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.

Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.

Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.

This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:

On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.

One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).

Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.

You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.

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 powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.

Topically, glycerin does several things at once:

Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.

Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.

This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.

Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer. Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient and texture enhancer.

In one study, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene showed better skin hydration levels than Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. As an emollient, it helps keep your skin soft and hydrated by trapping moisture in.

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is often used as a mineral oil replacement.

Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.

And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.

You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.

In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.

If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.

In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).

Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.

Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.

The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (formerly Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3) is a synthetic peptide. Its main job is to fight what researchers call "inflammaging".

"Inflammaging" is the slow, low-grade chronic inflammation that quietly breaks down collagen as we age.

This ingredient calms down a specific inflammation signal in your skin cells (called IL-6). When left unchecked, this signal triggers enzymes that break down collagen and elastin.

Clinical testing showed statistically significant improvements in:

Studies also found the more of this ingredient used, the more your skin produces Collagen I, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.

You'll likely see this ingredient paired with Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 in the well-known Matrixyl 3000 complex for enhanced anti-aging effects.

A 3% concentration applied twice daily for two months showed meaningful skin rejuvenation results in clinical panels.

Fungal acne note: Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 (aka Pal-GHK) is a synthetic signal peptide made of three amino acids attached to palmitic acid.

That fatty acid attachment is the key: it boosts the peptide's ability to penetrate the skin barrier. This puts it closer to the dermal cells where it can actually make a difference.

Once there, it acts as a matrikine, a signaling peptide that prompts fibroblasts to produce more collagen, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.

In vitro studies show it can boost collagen production in skin cells even when UV-damaged skin samples were treated with it at a tiny concentration (it almost fully restored dermal collagen at 5ppm). It achieved this at 100x lower concentration than retinoic acid, which needed 500 ppm to do the same thing.

Human clinical data is promising, but modest:

A study of 23 female volunteers found a small but statistically significant increase (~4%) in skin thickness after treatment at 4 ppm.

A separate small trial of 15 women showed statistically significant reductions in wrinkle length, depth, and skin roughness after applying it twice daily for four weeks.

You'll likely see Pal-GHK paired with Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 as part of the Matrixyl 3000 complex.

Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.

There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.

D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.

Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):

Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.

This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.

Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.

The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.

One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.

In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.

Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:

Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.

Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.

You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.

Tromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.

It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.

This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.

Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!

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