Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum versus Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum .
Published on April 05, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 11 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain common allergens and fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Price
Ingredient Info
Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum 19 ingredients
Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum 42 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
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 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
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 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum 19 ingredients
Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum 42 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum 19 ingredients
Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum 42 ingredients
Water • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Lactic Acid • Squalane • Glycerin • Sodium Hydroxide • Cetearyl Olivate • Propanediol • Sorbitan Olivate • Cetearyl Alcohol • Lespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 • Acacia Senegal Gum • Sodium Gluconate • Xanthan Gum • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Lavandula Angustifolia Oil • Linalool
Water • Propanediol • Glycerin • Squalane • Glycereth-26 • Glyceryl Polyacrylate • Mica • Cetearyl Alcohol • Bakuchiol • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 • Dimethicone • Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate • Aminomethyl Propanol • Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters • Phenoxyethanol • Hydroxyacetophenone • Parfum • Ceteareth-20 • Glycolic Acid • Lactic Acid • Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract • Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract • Cellulose Gum • Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract • Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract • Silica • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Citrus Limon Fruit Extract • Saccharum Officinarum Extract • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract • Santalum Album Extract • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate • Xanthan Gum • Ethylhexylglycerin • Citric Acid • Limonene • Linalool • Citral • CI 77891 • CI 60730 • CI 14700
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 WaterBiossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Lactic Acid is an AHA that is derived from fermenting lactose, a carbohydrate from milk. It removes the top layer of old and dead skin cells and helps increase cell turnover.
Benefits of Lactic Acid are that it can help to reduce large pores and reduce the effects of aging. Some potential downsides are that it can be bad for dry skin, cause irritation, worsen eczema, and worsen rosacea.
Not only does it help exfoliate the skin, it helps strengthen the skin's barrier. When applied, lactic acid helps the skin create ceramides.
Lactic acid is an over-the-counter chemical exfoliant that comes from the fermentation of lactose — a carbohydrate found in milk.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidBiossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.
Squalane is an emollient that helps the skin hold onto moisture. It's an oily liquid that occurs naturally in certain types of fish and plant oils.
Because squalane boosts hydration in the skin, it also comes with plenty of benefits: it is an antioxidant and can help fight free radicals and skin damage. Squalane is also found to have a detoxifying effect when applied.
Squalane comes from squalene, which occurs naturally within the sebum of our skin. It is one of the oils our skin produces to keep itself hydrated. Squalane is the hydrogenated version of squalene and has a longer shelf life.
Research shows that squalane is non-irritating (even at 100% concentration).
In general, it's a fantastic ingredient. It does a great job at hydrating the skin, and it's suitable for those with sensitive skin.
The source of squalane may impact malassezia / fungal acne. This is because olive oil derived squalane can contain impurities such as fatty acids and plant waxes. Sugarcane derived squalane is recommended for anyone with malassezia concerns.
Is squalane vegan? 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".
Learn more about SqualaneBiossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
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 GlycerinBiossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.
Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.
It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolBiossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.
Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholBiossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a texture enhancer and pH adjuster.
It is be used to thicken water-based products and create a gel-texture with a velvet feel.
One manufacturer claims this ingredient to have a pH range of 2-8 and to be biodegradable.
Learn more about Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.
Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumBiossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 34.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.
Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
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.
Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.
Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 35.
Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Linalool has the same effect as Limonene when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
Linalool has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolBiossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.
Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 38.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum 19 ingredients
Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum 42 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum 19 ingredients
Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum 42 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Olehenriksen Glow Cycle™ Retin-ALT Power Serum 42 ingredients
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