Medik8 Liquid Peptides for combination skin
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other serums fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate plumping for your combination skin, as Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 work to improve volume and elasticity, while Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid provide essential hydration without exacerbating oiliness.
- The formula supports general skincare benefits and hydration, which is helpful for managing oily shine, but it lacks specific ingredients to directly target oil control.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this serum as a "Botox in a bottle" alternative that delivers immediate hydration and visible plumping, particularly for fine lines on the forehead and around the eyes. It is widely celebrated for its ability to smooth skin texture and restore bounce to dry or mature skin without causing irritation, making it a staple for those targeting early to advanced signs of aging.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “Restores moisture”
- “Eliminates dry patches”
- “Leaves skin dewy”
- “'Glass skin' finish”
Elegant, lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs fast”
- “Non-greasy”
- “Silky feel”
- “Layers perfectly under makeup/SPF”
Visibly plumps and smooths Often Mentioned
- “Reduces fine lines”
- “Softens expression lines”
- “'Botox-like' effect”
- “Improves skin bounce”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “Expensive per bottle”
- “Investment skincare”
- “Pricey for the size”
- “Waiting for sales”
Gentle and non-irritating Sometimes Noted
- “Suitable for sensitive skin”
- “No stinging”
- “Works with retinol”
- “Calms redness”
Packaging fragility Sometimes Noted
- “Glass bottle breaks easily”
- “Dropper issues”
- “Difficult to get last drops”
- “Travel concerns”
Results require patience Rarely Noted
- “Subtle initial changes”
- “Takes weeks for deep wrinkles”
- “Not a 'miracle' for everyone”
Slight tackiness Rarely Noted
- “Can feel sticky if over-applied”
- “Needs time to dry”
- “'Glue-like' texture for some”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, cultbeauty.com, spacenk.com, medik8.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Medik8 Liquid Peptides serum work for combination skin?
Medik8 Liquid Peptides works moderately well for combination skin, offering basic hydration and smoothing without making oily areas worse. However, because it lacks targeted oil control ingredients, combination skin needs a treatment that includes niacinamide, zinc PCA, or propolis to properly balance oil and enhance radiance.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 make this serum a good fit for your combination skin by improving volume and elasticity, while glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide essential hydration without making oily areas worse. To fit combination skin even better, this type of product needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, or propolis to help control oily shine and boost radiance.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013
What does Argireline do for combination skin?
Argireline helps smooth out lines and keeps combination skin feeling soft when applied twice daily. This ingredient may reduce wrinkle depth and improve overall skin texture, though its absorption through the skin is quite low.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2013
What does Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 do for combination skin?
Palmitoyl tripeptide-1 helps smooth fine lines and supports firmness in combination skin when used as part of an anti-aging routine. Studies show that ingredients like this peptide can improve overall skin texture and boost collagen levels when applied consistently over time.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment serum goes in your evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Combination skin products of this type also need ingredients for direct oil control to manage shine.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the retinol first, letting it absorb, and then following with this treatment to keep your skin hydrated. This product is unlikely to irritate your skin since it has no harsh ingredients, but combination skin also needs specific oil-control ingredients to properly manage shine.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment fits into your evening routine as an average match for combination skin, providing helpful hydration without making oily areas worse. To work best for this skin type, a product of this kind needs added oil-controlling ingredients to manage shine.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
Medik8 Liquid Peptides is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on combination skin, as it has a very safe formula without harsh ingredients that lead to irritation. However, because this type of skin can be prone to shine, a product for it needs extra oil-controlling ingredients to manage oil properly.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Argireline treatment twice daily for 4 weeks produced a significant anti-wrinkle effect with 48.9% total efficacy and decreased skin roughness in Chinese subjects compared with 0% efficacy and no decrease in roughness in the placebo group.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Treatment with cross-linked hyaluronic acid-based microneedle patches combined with acetyl hexapeptide-8 or epidermal growth factor significantly improved wrinkles and skin hydration compared to the patch alone in Korean females over 29 days.
Annals of Dermatology, 2019Acetyl hexapeptide-3 and tripeptide-10 citrulline demonstrated antiwrinkle efficacy and decreased transepidermal water loss in twenty-four healthy volunteers compared to control groups, though synergistic effects between the two peptides remained unclear.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017Daily topical acetyl hexapeptide-8 showed a trend toward a longer time until return to baseline Jankovic Blepharospasm Rating Scale scores compared to placebo (3.7 months vs. 3.0 months) in 24 patients with blepharospasm receiving botulinum toxin therapy.
European Journal of Neurology, 2013Argireline applied twice daily for 4 weeks achieved a total anti-wrinkle efficiency of 48.9% and notably reduced wrinkle depth compared to placebo in Chinese subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2013A multi-modal methodology combining MALDI-MSI, in vivo RCM, echography, and histology revealed age-related decreases in extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction proteins and undulation depth, while a blend of palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 improved subepidermal low-echogenic band thickness, density, and extracellular matrix structure compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015Chronomodulated daytime application of baicalin and nighttime application of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 synergistically improved skin luminance by 16.29%, nasolabial fold depth by -36.35%, and firmness by 24.35% in 30 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10 significantly increased type III collagen levels in human dermal fibroblasts following UV exposure, with their combination demonstrating a greater effect in vitro and enhancing type I, III, and IV collagen levels in ex vivo skin tissues compared to individual components.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026
Why other serums fit combination skin better
Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.