Product record / Moisturizers, Peptides
MoisturizerThe INKEY List The Inkey List Peptide Moisturizer
- $12.60
- retail price
- $0.25
- per mL
- Data source
- Ingredient disclosed; concentration undisclosed The INKEY List confirms peptides (Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Pentapeptide-48) in formula; concentrations not publicly disclosed; INCI from INCIDecoder (incidecoder.com/products/the-inkey-list-peptide-moisturizer).
- Best for
- Anti-aging & firmness · Hydration
- How it feels
- Moisturizer
- Value
- $12.60 for 50 mL · $0.25/mL
Bottom line A solid budget moisturizer with peptide aspirations — the base earns its keep, the peptide dose is plausible but unproven.
Editorial verdict / Social intelligence
A solid budget moisturizer with peptide aspirations — the base earns its keep, the peptide dose is plausible but unproven. 1
- Beauty benefit
- A lightweight, barrier-friendly moisturizer that pairs a basic hydrating base (glycerin, shea butter, caprylic/capric triglyceride) with two cosmetic peptides — Acetyl Hexapeptide-37 and Pentapeptide-48 — positioned for budget anti-aging. Peptides at these concentrations are plausibly bioactive but the clinical evidence for the specific peptide pair in this formula is absent from public literature; the moisturizing base itself is well-formulated and does the heavy lifting for barrier support.
- Does it work
- Qualified yes for the moisturizer function; modest and unproven for the anti-aging peptide claim. The hydrating base — glycerin, shea butter, cetearyl alcohol, betaine — is legitimately effective barrier support with a clean, non-irritating profile. The two peptides (Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Pentapeptide-48) appear low in the ingredient list and have limited independent clinical literature; Acetyl Hexapeptide-37 is functionally related to the argireline class (neurotransmitter-inhibitor peptides) but lacks the direct RCT evidence that palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 (Matrixyl) carries. At its price point — roughly $10 for 50 mL — it is a reasonable budget entry into peptide moisturizers for users who want the category benefit without overpaying for unproven actives. See the verified data below →
Consensus strength
ThinNo verified retailer rating data. Ingredient analysis (INCIDecoder) confirms the peptide pair is present but low on the INCI list. The broader peptide class has a mixed-to-moderate evidence base per the 2026 systematic review and multiple editorial sources; the specific peptides in this formula (Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Pentapeptide-48) lack independent published RCT data at cosmetic concentrations. Editorial and dermatology consensus on peptides as a class is: safe, barrier-friendly, worth using if affordable, not worth prioritising over retinol or vitamin C.
01 / The key active
Peptides
Peptides is present in the formula; the brand does not disclose the exact concentration.
Ingredient disclosed; concentration undisclosed. The INKEY List confirms peptides (Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Pentapeptide-48) in formula; concentrations not publicly disclosed; INCI from INCIDecoder (incidecoder.com/products/the-inkey-list-peptide-moisturizer).
Other products with Peptides:
02 / The full ingredient list
Every ingredient, in label order
Exactly as printed, each token matched to the EU CosIng register and flagged where a CIR safety assessment exists. Highlighted rows are the key actives.
| # | Ingredient, as printed | CosIng functions | CIR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Aqua (Water/Eau) no CosIng match — shown as printed | no CosIng function record | — |
| 02 | Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 03 | Glycerin |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 04 | C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 05 | Cetearyl Alcohol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 06 | Glyceryl Stearate SE |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 07 | Betaine |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 08 | Butylene Glycol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 09 | Phenoxyethanol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 10 | Benzyl Alcohol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 11 | Carbomer |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 12 | Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 13 | Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 14 | Sodium Hydroxide |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 15 | Ethylhexylglycerin |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 16 | Sodium Gluconate |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 17 | Tocopheryl Acetate |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 18 | Dehydroacetic Acid |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 19 | Hydrogenated Lecithin |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 20 | Phenethyl Alcohol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 21 | Acetyl Hexapeptide-37 |
| — |
| 22 | Maltodextrin |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 23 | Pentapeptide-48 |
| — |
23 ingredients as printed · 22 exact CosIng matches · 1 with no CosIng match · source: ingredient disclosed; concentration undisclosed
03 / Where to buy
Where to buy The Inkey List Peptide Moisturizer
Some links on this page earn us a commission. It never changes our analysis — the methodology is public.
04 / What people say
What buyers actually say
What works
- Common Peptide moisturizers are among the best-tolerated anti-aging formats — no photosensitivity, no purging, no significant irritation risk; safe for sensitive skin 23
Peptides appear to be safe, non-invasive anti-aging agents, though larger RCTs with standardized outcomes and histopathologic assessment are warranted Study
- Common The moisturizing base (glycerin, shea butter, betaine, cetearyl alcohol) is genuinely effective for barrier support — this product functions as a solid moisturizer independent of its peptide claims 1
Acetyl Hexapeptide-37 listed as moisturizer/humectant; formula anchored by glycerin, caprylic/capric triglyceride, and shea butter Editorial
- Common Signal peptides and neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptides have biologically plausible mechanisms — the class that includes acetyl hexapeptides has RCT evidence at high concentrations (10% argireline, 30% wrinkle depth reduction in originating studies) 54
signal peptides, enzyme-inhibitor peptides, neurotransmitter-inhibitor peptides and carrier peptides review
- Some Budget price point makes this a rational choice for users wanting to layer peptides into a routine without the cost premium of Olay Regenerist or SkinCeuticals — affordable access to the class benefit 7
other ingredients like AHAs and retinol are currently more scientifically backed pro-aging ingredients Editorial
What to know
- Common The two peptides in this formula (Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Pentapeptide-48) sit low in the INCI list and have limited published independent clinical data — it is not possible to verify effective concentration from the label 13
Acetyl Hexapeptide-37 and Pentapeptide-48 appear after preservatives in the ingredient list Editorial
- Common Cosmetic peptides are less well-evidenced than retinol or AHAs for anti-aging — research is still developing; this formula cannot be expected to match the clinical track record of a retinol or vitamin C product 72
other ingredients like AHAs and retinol are currently more scientifically backed pro-aging ingredients Editorial
- Common The penetration problem affects the whole peptide class — most cosmetic peptides are large hydrophilic molecules; how much of the active peptide reaches dermal fibroblasts after application in a moisturizer base is not established for these specific molecules 65
Due to its hydrophilic nature and relatively large molecular size, AH-8 faces limited permeability through the lipophilic stratum corneum, making effective dermal delivery challenging Study
- Some Most peptide clinical evidence comes from studies of peptide-only vehicles or high concentrations — results at cosmetic multi-ingredient concentrations are difficult to predict from published data 34
only five peptides present evidence supporting their use in sensitive skin, with only one clinical study including volunteers having this condition Study
What you'd only know from the reviews
-
Acetyl Hexapeptide-37 is not the same as the better-known Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (Argireline). AH-8 is the SNARE-inhibiting peptide with the most published anti-wrinkle evidence (30% wrinkle depth reduction in originating studies at 10%). AH-37 has a different sequence and mechanism and appears in the cosmetic literature primarily as a moisturizer/humectant rather than a neurotransmitter inhibitor. The presence of 'peptide' branding here applies the AH-8 halo to a different molecule — marketing conflation the consumer cannot easily detect from the label alone. 16
-
Palmitoylation is the key formulation chemistry lever that makes Matrixyl-class peptides more bioavailable — the fatty acid tail improves stratum corneum traversal. This moisturizer contains no palmitoylated peptides; both Acetyl Hexapeptide-37 and Pentapeptide-48 are unmodified. This does not make them inert, but it means they do not benefit from the permeability enhancement that is the primary reason signal peptide serums use palmitoyl forms. 85
-
A 2026 systematic review of 19 RCTs found that oral collagen peptides showed a stronger benefit signal for skin aging outcomes than topical peptides. The topical peptide evidence is weaker by comparison — a nuance rarely raised in editorial discussions of peptide creams, where oral vs topical delivery is almost never mentioned. 2
-
Do not layer this with an AHA in the same routine step. Healthline (citing clinical context) notes that using a peptide with an alpha hydroxy acid actively reduces peptide efficacy — AHAs can break down peptide bonds. If you use a chemical exfoliant (glycolic, lactic, mandelic), apply it on alternate nights or keep it in a separate AM/PM slot from this moisturizer. 7
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05 / Questions
Frequently asked
- What's in The INKEY List The Inkey List Peptide Moisturizer?
- The INKEY List The Inkey List Peptide Moisturizer lists 23 ingredients. Key active: Peptides (concentration undisclosed). The INKEY List confirms peptides (Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Pentapeptide-48) in formula; concentrations not publicly disclosed; INCI from INCIDecoder (incidecoder.com/products/the-inkey-list-peptide-moisturizer). The full ingredient list, matched to EU CosIng, is on this page.
- Does The INKEY List The Inkey List Peptide Moisturizer work?
- Qualified yes for the moisturizer function; modest and unproven for the anti-aging peptide claim. The hydrating base — glycerin, shea butter, cetearyl alcohol, betaine — is legitimately effective barrier support with a clean, non-irritating profile. The two peptides (Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Pentapeptide-48) appear low in the ingredient list and have limited independent clinical literature; Acetyl Hexapeptide-37 is functionally related to the argireline class (neurotransmitter-inhibitor peptides) but lacks the direct RCT evidence that palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 (Matrixyl) carries. At its price point — roughly $10 for 50 mL — it is a reasonable budget entry into peptide moisturizers for users who want the category benefit without overpaying for unproven actives.
- How much Peptides is in The INKEY List The Inkey List Peptide Moisturizer?
- The INKEY List does not publicly disclose the exact concentration. Peptides appears in the INCI list; the amount is undisclosed. The INKEY List confirms peptides (Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Pentapeptide-48) in formula; concentrations not publicly disclosed; INCI from INCIDecoder (incidecoder.com/products/the-inkey-list-peptide-moisturizer).
- Where can I buy The INKEY List The Inkey List Peptide Moisturizer?
- $12.60 on Amazon (price recorded as of the date shown). The INKEY List confirms peptides (Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Pentapeptide-48) in formula; concentrations not publicly disclosed; INCI from INCIDecoder (incidecoder.com/products/the-inkey-list-peptide-moisturizer).