Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Advanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector versus Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol .
Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on July 25, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe facial treatments. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid, retinoid and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Price
Ingredient Info
Advanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector 32 ingredients
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol 31 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Advanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector 32 ingredients
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol 31 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.
Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Advanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector 32 ingredients
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol 31 ingredients
Water • Glyceryl Stearate • Cetearyl Alcohol • Glycerin • Lactic Acid • Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract • Isopropyl Myristate • Cetearyl Phosphate • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Dictyopteris Polypodioides Extract • Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate • Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Tocopheryl Acetate • Caffeine • Retinyl Palmitate • Tocopherol • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Caprylyl Glycol • Butylene Glycol • Sodium Polyacrylate • Cetearyl Dimethicone • Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Hexylene Glycol • Sodium Hydroxide • Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate • Parfum
Water • Glycerin • Propanediol • Cetyl Ethylhexanoate • C13-15 Alkane • Cetyl Alcohol • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Cetearyl Olivate • Coconut Alkanes • Sorbitan Olivate • Potassium Cetyl Phosphate • Betaine • Retinyl Sunflowerseedate • Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract • Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract • Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Sodium Hyaluronate • Tocopherol • Coco-Caprylate/Caprate • Ethylhexylglycerin • Glycol Stearate • Glyceryl Stearate • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Maltodextrin • Xanthan Gum • Benzoic Acid • Sodium Hydroxide • Carbomer • Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterAdvanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector contains this as ingredient number 1.
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol contains this as ingredient number 1.
Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
Glyceryl Stearate is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced. The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateAdvanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector contains this as ingredient number 2.
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol contains this as ingredient number 23.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinAdvanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector contains this as ingredient number 4.
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol contains this as ingredient number 2.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.
Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.
It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceAdvanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector contains this as ingredient number 9.
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol contains this as ingredient number 17.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateAdvanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector contains this as ingredient number 13.
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol contains this as ingredient number 18.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter is a plant lipid from the fruit of the Shea Tree. It is an effective skin hydrator and emollient.
Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. It does this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Shea butter is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may harm the body. It is also full of fatty acids including stearic acid and linoleic acid. These acids help replenish the skin and keep skin moisturized.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
Shea butter may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterAdvanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector contains this as ingredient number 16.
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol contains this as ingredient number 7.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolAdvanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector contains this as ingredient number 20.
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol contains this as ingredient number 19.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideAdvanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector contains this as ingredient number 21.
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol contains this as ingredient number 24.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Advanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector contains this as ingredient number 28.
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol contains this as ingredient number 21.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideAdvanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector contains this as ingredient number 30.
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol contains this as ingredient number 28.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Advanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector 32 ingredients
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol 31 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Advanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector 32 ingredients
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol 31 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Advanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector 32 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 18 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Advanced Clinicals Dark Spot - Spot Corrector.
See 18 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 9 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol.
See 9 alternatives