Celimax Cica Serum Versus MediCube AGE-R Collagen Booster Gel Serum

Celimax Cica Serum Versus MediCube AGE-R Collagen Booster Gel Serum

This calming serum is formulated around Centella Asiatica Extract and Niacinamide to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Adenosine to soften the look of wrinkles.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Centella Asiatica Extract

Water

Dipropylene Glycol

Niacinamide 5%

Glycerin

Butylene Glycol

1,2-Hexanediol

Hydroxyethyl Urea

Carbomer

Tromethamine

Hydroxyacetophenone

Ethylhexylglycerin

Caprylyl Glycol

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Portulaca Oleracea Extract

Allantoin

Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Disodium EDTA

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Trehalose

Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Panthenol

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Pvm/Ma Copolymer

Beta-Glucan

Biosaccharide Gum-1

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Sodium Hyaluronate

Tocopherol

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Madecassoside

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Asiatic Acid

Madecassic Acid

Asiaticoside

Centella Asiatica Extract, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide 5%, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Allantoin, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Trehalose, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Beta-Glucan, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Madecassoside, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside

Methylpropanediol

Glycereth-26

Niacinamide

Polyglycerin-3

Methyl Gluceth-20

Methyl Gluceth-10

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

C12-14 Pareth-12

Soluble Elastin

Parfum

Adenosine

Eclipta Prostrata Extract

Soluble Collagen

Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil

Phosphatidylcholine

Hyaluronic Acid

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Sodium DNA

Atelocollagen

Desamido Collagen

Ceramide NP

Prunella Vulgaris Extract

Fucus Vesiculosus Extract

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate

Collagen

Collagen Amino Acids

Glycine

Serine

Procollagen

Glutamic Acid

Lysine

Alanine

Threonine

Proline

Arginine

Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Methyl Gluceth-20, Methyl Gluceth-10, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Allantoin, C12-14 Pareth-12, Soluble Elastin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Butylene Glycol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Soluble Collagen, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Phosphatidylcholine, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium DNA, Atelocollagen, Desamido Collagen, Ceramide NP, Prunella Vulgaris Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Collagen, Collagen Amino Acids, Glycine, Serine, Procollagen, Glutamic Acid, Lysine, Alanine, Threonine, Proline, Arginine

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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

Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.

Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.

It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.

Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.

This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.

Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.

Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.

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.

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.

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.

This ingredient is also known as neem leaf extract. It contains natural compounds like nimbidin, quercetin, and other polyphenols that give it antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activity.

Lab studies have shown neem leaf extract can inhibit acne-related bacteria and help calm skin. Animal studies on wound gels using 1-3% neem leaf extract found it sped up healing without causing irritation.

A wound-healing study testing gels with the extract at 1%, 2%, and 3% concentrations and found none of them irritated the skin.

Most commercial products also use it in a similar low range (typically under 5%).

Allergy-wise, there are some case reports on neem oil causing allergic contact dermatitis so people with plant/botanical sensitivities may want to patch test first.

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.

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.

Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.

Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:

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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