alpyn beauty Wild Nettle & Niacinamide Instant Firming Serum Versus Peter Thomas Roth Pro Strength Vitamin A/C/E Retinoid Treatment
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Lactic Acid to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Tocopheryl Acetate and Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Urtica Dioica Extract
AstringentNephelium Lappaceum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCurcuma Longa Root Oil
Perfuming
Pullulan
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Taraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Uliginosum Berry Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Davidiana Extract
Antioxidant
Salix Alba Extract
Skin ConditioningBorago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Silica
Abrasive
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Niacinamide, Urtica Dioica Extract, Nephelium Lappaceum Leaf Extract, Squalane, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Superoxide Dismutase, Lactic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Potassium Sorbate, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Curcuma Longa Root Oil, Pullulan, Diheptyl Succinate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Vaccinium Uliginosum Berry Extract, Prunus Davidiana Extract, Salix Alba Extract, Borago Officinalis Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Maltodextrin, Silica, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
C9-12 Alkane
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Volcanic Soil
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Amylopectin
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin Protecting
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
PEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Silica
Abrasive
Ceteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, C9-12 Alkane, Glyceryl Stearate, Volcanic Soil, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylyl Methicone, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Amylopectin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Phytate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Potassium Sorbate, PEG-75 Stearate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, PEG-100 Stearate, Silica, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Polysorbate 60, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Squalane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about SqualaneWater. 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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
