Every Ingredient
Has a Reason

Peptides are short chains of amino acids — the building blocks of protein. When applied to skin, certain peptide sequences act as biological signals, instructing skin cells to increase collagen and elastin production. The result, over weeks of consistent use, is measurably firmer, more structured skin.

CELLIV uses a tri-peptide complex selected for dermal penetration depth and collagen-signalling efficacy. Unlike many peptide products that use minimal concentrations as label claims, ours are formulated at levels where they can actually function.

Ceramides are lipid molecules that naturally make up roughly 50% of the skin's barrier. As we age — or expose skin to environmental stressors — this barrier depletes, leading to dryness, sensitivity, and increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Replacing ceramides topically helps rebuild what the skin has lost.

Think of ceramides as the mortar between the bricks of your skin cells. Without them, the barrier becomes porous — and moisture escapes while irritants enter. With them, skin stays calm, cushioned, and hydrated from within.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring molecule in skin capable of holding up to 1,000× its weight in water. The key nuance — and one many brands ignore — is that molecular weight determines where in the skin HA deposits moisture.

CELLIV uses three molecular weights of HA simultaneously: high-weight HA humectifies the surface for immediate plumpness; medium-weight penetrates the outer epidermis; low-weight (sodium hyaluronate) reaches deeper layers for sustained hydration. This multi-depth approach produces a more complete result than single-weight HA formulas.

Silk proteins, when hydrolysed into small molecular fragments, become skin-compatible actives that deposit a breathable, invisible film across the skin's surface. This film smooths micro-texture, reflects light softly, and adds a luxurious tactile quality — without the heaviness of silicones.

The effect is both immediate and cumulative: skin feels noticeably softer and more refined from the first use, while the amino acid profile of silk proteins contributes to barrier function over time. This is why the CELLIV Silk Thread Serum takes its name — silk is not a marketing word here. It is an active.

Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is one of the most clinically researched topical actives available. Its benefits are broad: it reduces the appearance of enlarged pores, evens skin tone, controls sebum production, strengthens the barrier, and has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties.

Unlike many actives that work in a single pathway, niacinamide works across several simultaneously — making it one of the few true multi-benefit ingredients. CELLIV uses it at a concentration shown in literature to produce toning and pore-refining effects, without the irritation risk of higher-percentage formulas.

Pure ascorbic acid (L-AA) is highly effective but notoriously unstable — it oxidises quickly on exposure to air and light, reducing efficacy and sometimes causing skin irritation. CELLIV uses ascorbyl glucoside, a stabilised vitamin C derivative that converts to active ascorbic acid once absorbed into the skin.

The benefit is antioxidant protection against free-radical damage (from UV, pollution and oxidative stress) as well as gradual, gentle brightening of uneven tone and post-inflammatory pigmentation. It is well tolerated by sensitive skin types — a common limitation of traditional vitamin C formulations.