Skincare Formulation Advice

Your Brightening and Dark Spot Formula (Age 21, Oily T-zone, Enlarged Pores)

Based on the ingredients you listed (Glucosamine, Vitamin B3, Alpha Arbutin, Licorice root extract, Centella asiatica/gotu kola, Green tea EGCG, Vitamin B5 /D-panthenol, Allantoin) and your goal of brightening and reducing dark spots:

• The combination of ingredients is generally suitable for brightening and addressing dark spots.
• Having many ingredients in a formula doesn't necessarily damage the skin if used within recommended percentages, but it can result in a sticky texture.
• For your specific goal of only brightening and reducing dark spots, the ingredients Centella asiatica/gotu kola, Green tea EGCG, and Vitamin B5 /D-panthenol are considered less essential and could potentially be omitted if you prefer a simpler formula.
• The scent of the formula will be derived from the ingredients themselves, as no fragrance is added.

Mother's Anti-Aging Formula (Age 42, Starting Wrinkles)

For reducing wrinkles and providing moisture, the staff suggested a base formula including Glucosamine, Vitamin B3, Matrixyl 3000, Argireline, Centella asiatica/gotu kola, and Vitamin B5 /D-panthenol, recommending Natural Moisturizing Amino Acids for very dry skin.

Regarding the peptide options you asked about adding:

• Matrixyl 3000 (contains Pal-GHK and Pal-GQPR) is known for stimulating collagen synthesis, improving skin elasticity, and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. It works by signaling the skin to produce more collagen and other components important for skin structure.
• Argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8) works by targeting the muscle contractions that contribute to expression lines and wrinkles, particularly around the eyes and forehead. It helps to relax these muscles, thus reducing the appearance of wrinkles. It is often used in conjunction with collagen-stimulating peptides like Matrixyl 3000 for a more comprehensive anti-aging effect.
• SNAP-8 (Acetyl Octapeptide-3) is a peptide similar to Argireline, also designed to reduce muscle contractions and lessen the depth of wrinkles. It is considered to have potentially greater efficacy than Argireline for this purpose.
• Tego Pep 4-17 (likely Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7) is one of the peptides found in Matrixyl 3000. Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 is known for its collagen-stimulating properties and its role in reducing inflammation, which can contribute to skin aging.

Comparing the two combinations:

• 8% Matrixyl 3000 + 10% Argireline: This combination provides both collagen stimulation (Matrixyl 3000) and muscle relaxation for wrinkles (Argireline).
• 5% Tego Pep 4-17 + SNAP-8: This combination also provides collagen stimulation (Tego Pep 4-17, which is part of Matrixyl 3000) and muscle relaxation (SNAP-8). SNAP-8 is noted as potentially more effective than Argireline for relaxing muscle contractions.

Both combinations offer a dual approach to anti-aging by addressing both collagen production and muscle-related wrinkles. The choice between them may depend on the desired intensity of the muscle-relaxing effect (SNAP-8 potentially stronger than Argireline) and cost considerations, as you mentioned. The staff's suggested formula includes Matrixyl 3000 and Argireline.

Adding Natural Moisturizing Amino Acids is a good option for increasing hydration, especially for drier skin.

Modifying Witch Hazel Toner

While toner is typically used for wiping, it is possible to change its texture to a gel by adding a gelling agent. Xanthan Gum is an example of a suitable gelling agent for this purpose. However, the staff advises that this changes the intended use of the product from a wipe-on toner to a gel application.