
Highlights
WHAT IS IT?
Firming and resurfacing essence with peptides and botanical extracts
FEATURES
Resurfaces, balances, and firms skin, Contains skin-firming peptides, Supports natural microbiome, Rich in antioxidants
BEST FOR
combination
CHECKS
Sulfates, Parabens, Gluten, Soy, Phthalates, Fragrance
Who Is It For?
All Ages All GendersWhat Does It Help With?
Skin Firmness Resurfacing Microbiome Balance Anti-aging Moisture Barrier SupportBudget
Mid-range ($30-$75)How To Use
Which routine should it be used in?
Instructions:
Key Information
What Sunday Riley Says
Product Description:
Peptides help firm the skin, while fermented honey and botanical extracts balance the skin's natural microbiome and resurface the skin. A power drink for your skin, this peptide-infused essence resurfaces, balances, and firms the look of your skin while drenching it in advanced green tea antioxidant support.
About the Brand:
Ingredients Overview
Ingredients List
WATER/EAU/AQUA, YEAST FERMENT (PINK YEAST) EXTRACT, SACCHAROMYCES FERMENT FILTRATE, HONEY EXTRACT, ACETYL TETRAPEPTIDE-11, ACETYL TETRAPEPTIDE-9, EPIGALLOCATECHIN GALLATYL GLUCOSIDE, CERAMIDE AP, CERAMIDE EOP, CERAMIDE NP, CUCUMIS MELO (MELON) FRUIT EXTRACT, CUCUMIS SATIVUS (CUCUMBER) SEED EXTRACT, SEA WATER, PHOSPHOLIPIDS, SPHINGOLIPIDS, LAMINARIA DIGITATA (SEA KELP) EXTRACT, ZYMOMONAS FERMENT EXTRACT, PRUNUS ARMENIACA (APRICOT) FRUIT EXTRACT, PYRUS MALUS (APPLE) FRUIT EXTRACT, CHLORELLA VULGARIS EXTRACT, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, THEOBROMA CACAO (COCOA) EXTRACT, COCOS NUCIFERA (COCONUT) FRUIT EXTRACT, TRIETHYL CITRATE, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, CITRUS LIMON (LEMON) PEEL OIL, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) PEEL EXTRACT, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) FRUIT EXTRACT, CITRUS PARADISI (GRAPEFRUIT) PEEL EXTRACT, VANILLA PLANIFOLIA FRUIT EXTRACT, JASMINUM OFFICINALE (JASMINE) FLOWER/LEAF EXTRACT, RUBUS IDAEUS (RASPBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT, ROSA DAMASCENA EXTRACT, MELIA AZADIRACHTA LEAF EXTRACT, MELIA AZADIRACHTA FLOWER EXTRACT, POLYGLYCERIN-6, GLYCERIN, SACCHARIDE ISOMERATE, CHOLESTEROL, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, CORALLINA OFFICINALIS EXTRACT, COCCINIA INDICA FRUIT EXTRACT, BETAINE, POLYSORBATE 20, DIMETHYL ISOSORBIDE, PHENOXYETHANOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, CARBOMER, HYDROXYACETOPHENONE, XANTHAN GUM, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, TRIS(TETRAMETHYLHYDROXYPIPERIDINOL) CITRATE, ALCOHOL, SODIUM PHYTATE.
Key Ingredients
fermented honey, peptides, green tea EGCG, ceramides
Ingredients Details
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Common Name(s): Acetyl tetrapeptide-11,tetrapeptide signal peptide,anti-aging active
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Stimulates collagen i, iii, and iv synthesis, inhibits collagen-degrading mmp-1 and mmp-3, and promotes dermal matrix density for firmer, more elastic skin with reduced wrinkle depth.
Why It's Used: Provides precision receptor targeting (tgf-ฮฒ, egf, or integrin receptors) that broad-spectrum botanicals cannot replicate, with clinical-grade purity and quantified in-vitro efficacy at 1โ5000 ppm.
How It Works: The tetrapeptide amino acid sequence binds specific receptors activating map kinase or smad signalling cascades, upregulating col1a1, col3a1, and fibronectin genes while downregulating mmp-1.
Typically Found In: Anti-aging serums,collagen actives
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ signal peptide
Secondary Functions: Collagen stimulation,skin firming,anti-aging
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 1โ5000 ppm
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Synthetically produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis (spps). may be palmitoylated for stability.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; suitable for all skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Exceptional safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Hyaluronic acid,ceramides,retinol,vitamin c,niacinamide
Avoid Combining With: Avoid mixing with high-concentration ahas at same ph (may hydrolyze peptide bonds)
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Synthetic tetrapeptide sequences are designed from naturally occurring signal protein domains (collagen propeptides, growth factor active sites) and synthesised by solid-phase peptide synthesis to >98% purity.
Last Verified: Cosing database,acetyl tetrapeptide-11 signal peptide review
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Common Name(s): Acetyl tetrapeptide-9,tetrapeptide signal peptide,anti-aging active
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Stimulates collagen i, iii, and iv synthesis, inhibits collagen-degrading mmp-1 and mmp-3, and promotes dermal matrix density for firmer, more elastic skin with reduced wrinkle depth.
Why It's Used: Provides precision receptor targeting (tgf-ฮฒ, egf, or integrin receptors) that broad-spectrum botanicals cannot replicate, with clinical-grade purity and quantified in-vitro efficacy at 1โ5000 ppm.
How It Works: The tetrapeptide amino acid sequence binds specific receptors activating map kinase or smad signalling cascades, upregulating col1a1, col3a1, and fibronectin genes while downregulating mmp-1.
Typically Found In: Anti-aging serums,collagen actives
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ signal peptide
Secondary Functions: Collagen stimulation,skin firming,anti-aging
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 1โ5000 ppm
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Synthetically produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis (spps). may be palmitoylated for stability.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; suitable for all skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Exceptional safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Hyaluronic acid,ceramides,retinol,vitamin c,niacinamide
Avoid Combining With: Avoid mixing with high-concentration ahas at same ph (may hydrolyze peptide bonds)
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Synthetic tetrapeptide sequences are designed from naturally occurring signal protein domains (collagen propeptides, growth factor active sites) and synthesised by solid-phase peptide synthesis to >98% purity.
Last Verified: Cosing database,acetyl tetrapeptide-9 signal peptide review
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Ceramide Ap
Common Name(s): Ceramide 6 ii,n-(2-hydroxy)-stearoyl phytosphingosine,alpha-hydroxy ceramide
CAS Number: 100403-19-8
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides alpha-hydroxy ceramide for complementary barrier repair alongside ceramide np and eop.
Why It's Used: Essential barrier ceramide trio component โ ceramide ap's alpha-hydroxy fatty acid provides the specific lamellar body formation chemistry needed for complete barrier restoration with ceramide np and ceramide eop.
How It Works: N-(2-hydroxyfatty acid) phytosphingosine: 2-hydroxylation of fatty acid is critical for optimal packing of ceramide ap in lamellar lipid bilayers. the alpha-hydroxy group creates stronger intermolecular hydrogen bonding between ceramide ap molecules than non-hydroxylated ceramides. used in combination with ceramide np and ceramide eop for comprehensive barrier repair.
Typically Found In: Complete barrier repair formulas,triple ceramide systems,eczema treatment
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ alpha-hydroxy ceramide
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.01%โ1%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional โ plant-derived phytosphingosine available
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1โ2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
The ceramide np + ceramide ap + ceramide eop triple combination mimics the natural ratio of ceramide classes in healthy stratum corneum (approximately 1:0.5:0.3 ratio). clinical studies comparing single ceramide vs triple ceramide barrier repair show significantly greater tewl reduction with triple ceramide combinations โ the complementary molecular packing geometries of different ceramide classes creating a more complete lamellar bilayer than any single ceramide can provide.
Last Verified: Cosing database,elias & feingold barrier ceramide review
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Ceramide Eop
Common Name(s): Ceramide 1,omega-hydroxy ceramide linoleate,acylceramide
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides the essential acylceramide scaffold for stratum corneum lamellar lipid organisation and barrier architecture.
Why It's Used: The architectural ceramide โ ceramide eop's covalent corneocyte envelope binding is unique among ceramides and essential for organising the lamellar lipid matrix of the stratum corneum barrier.
How It Works: Omega-hydroxy ceramide esterified with linoleic acid at the omega-end. omega-hydroxyl group covalently bonds to involucrin/envoplakin proteins of corneocyte envelope via ester bond. this covalent anchor organises the lamellar lipid bilayers around each corneocyte. linoleate deficiency impairs this covalent anchoring โ the biochemical basis of linoleic acid deficiency skin disease.
Typically Found In: Complete barrier repair systems,eczema treatment,omega-ceramide products
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ linoleate acylceramide
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.001%โ0.5%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional โ plant-derived linoleate available
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1โ2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Ceramide eop's covalent corneocyte envelope binding is the only covalent interaction in the stratum corneum lipid structure โ all other lamellar lipids interact via non-covalent van der waals and hydrogen bonds. this unique covalent anchoring of eop to the protein envelope provides the mechanical scaffold from which the entire lamellar lipid architecture is organised, making ceramide eop architecturally irreplaceable in barrier function.
Last Verified: Cosing database,holleran et al. ceramide eop review
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12