MEDI-PEEL Peptide 9 Bio Sun Stick SPF 50+ PA+++ Versus SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF50+ PA++++

MEDI-PEEL Peptide 9 Bio Sun Stick SPF 50+ PA+++ Versus SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF50+ PA++++

This hybrid sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.

This chemical sunscreen covers the full UV range and blocks ~98% of UVB at SPF 50.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Triethylhexanoin

Ceresin

Acrylates Copolymer

Water

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate

Isononyl Isononanoate

Isoamyl Laurate

Dibutyl Adipate

Isoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate

Butyloctyl Salicylate

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor

Ethylhexyl Palmitate

Euphorbia Cerifera Wax

Polymethyl Methacrylate

Ozokerite

Zinc Oxide

Titanium Dioxide

Glycerin

Niacinamide

Nylon-12

Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate

Microcrystalline Wax

Sorbitan Sesquioleate

1,2-Hexanediol

Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2

Sorbitan Olivate

Aluminum Hydroxide

Stearic Acid

Tocopherol

Butylene Glycol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Adenosine

Glycine Soja Oil

Disodium EDTA

Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Laminaria Japonica Extract

Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract

Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract

Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate

Fructan

Oryza Sativa Germ Extract

Oryza Sativa Extract

BHT

Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract

Angelica Gigas Root Extract

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Morus Alba Bark Extract

Phellinus Linteus Extract

Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract

Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract

Sophora Flavescens Root Extract

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract

Pvp

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Cynanchum Atratum Extract

Lycopodium Clavatum Extract

Equisetum Arvense Extract

Propanediol

Biosaccharide Gum-4

Sodium Hyaluronate

Hydrolyzed Elastin

Atelocollagen

Desamido Collagen

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin

Polysorbate 80

Soluble Collagen

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Ubiquinone

Collagen

Collagen Amino Acids

Astaxanthin

Glutathione

Sodium Benzoate

Fullerenes

Hexapeptide-9

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Copper Tripeptide-1

Procollagen

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate

Nonapeptide-1

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Tripeptide-1

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2

Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate

Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Hyaluronic Acid

Pentylene Glycol

Potassium Hyaluronate

Parfum

Triethylhexanoin, Ceresin, Acrylates Copolymer, Water, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isoamyl Laurate, Dibutyl Adipate, Isoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Ozokerite, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Nylon-12, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Microcrystalline Wax, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Sorbitan Olivate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Glycine Soja Oil, Disodium EDTA, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Fructan, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, BHT, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Pvp, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Lycopodium Clavatum Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Propanediol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Atelocollagen, Desamido Collagen, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Polysorbate 80, Soluble Collagen, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ubiquinone, Collagen, Collagen Amino Acids, Astaxanthin, Glutathione, Sodium Benzoate, Fullerenes, Hexapeptide-9, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Procollagen, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Nonapeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Hyaluronate, Parfum

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Ethylhexyl Triazone

Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Caprylyl Methicone

Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone

Behenyl Alcohol

Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate

Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate

Decyl Glucoside

Tromethamine

Carbomer

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Xanthan Gum

Centella Asiatica Extract

T-Butyl Alcohol

Betula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract

Brassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract

Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract

Eruca Sativa Leaf Extract

Medicago Sativa Extract

Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract

Inositol

Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Niacinamide, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylyl Methicone, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Decyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Centella Asiatica Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Eruca Sativa Leaf Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract, Inositol, Hyaluronic Acid

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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.

Dibutyl Adipate is a lightweight, oil-soluble ester that acts as an emollient and solvent. It helps products spread more easily and leaves a soft, silky, dry-touch finish without being greasy.

You'll likely see this ingredient in sunscreens because it does a nice job dissolving UV filters and keeping them evenly distributed.

This ingredient has been found to be safe as used in cosmetics, wasn't a skin or eye irritant in clinical patch testing, and wasn't phototoxic.

In a clinical comedogenicity test, this ingredient tested negative so it isn't likely to clog pores.

Typical use levels are about 5-8% for sunscreens + nail products, but can range from 0.005%-8% depending on the product.

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).

DHHB is well-liked for:

DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.

This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.

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.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.

Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.

The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.

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

This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.

The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.

A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.

It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.

Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.

Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.

Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.

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.

Pentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:

Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.

On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.

Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

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:

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.

Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.

You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.

Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.

It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.

This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.

This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.

In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.

Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.

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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