Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum Versus Shani Darden Retinol Reform

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum versus Shani Darden Retinol Reform .

Published on November 28, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain 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, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones 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.

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Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum

Shani Darden Retinol Reform

Serum Australian Brand

Serum Brand

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy Retinol Night Renewal Serum

Shop

Buy Retinol Reform

Starts at $89.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum 17 ingredients

Shani Darden Retinol Reform 43 ingredients

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum 17 ingredients

Shani Darden Retinol Reform 43 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid (2)

Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating

Good For Oily Skin (2)

Redness Reducing

Reduces Irritation (2)

Skin Texture (2)

Reduces Large Pores (2)

Anti-Aging (2)

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing (2)

Acne Fighting (2)

Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying (2)

Irritating (2)

Eczema

Notable Ingredients

AHA

Retinoid

Vitamin E (2)

Niacinamide

Benefits

Hydrating (3)

Good For Oily Skin (2)

Redness Reducing (3)

Reduces Irritation (2)

Skin Texture (2)

Reduces Large Pores (4)

Anti-Aging (4)

Dark Spots (3)

Scar Healing (3)

Acne Fighting (3)

Brightening (6)

Concerns

Drying

May Worsen Oily Skin

Acne Trigger

Irritating (3)

Rosacea

Eczema (2)

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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum 17 ingredients

Shani Darden Retinol Reform 43 ingredients

Water • Propanediol • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate • Dimethyl Isosorbide • Glycerin • Retinol • Tocopheryl Acetate • Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate • Xanthan Gum • Bisabolol • Polysorbate 20 • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Citric Acid • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin

Water • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Glycerin • Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract • Lactic Acid • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Lactobacillus Ferment • Isohexadecane • Retinol • Copernicia Cerifera Wax • Glucosamine Hcl • Plankton Extract • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Tocopheryl Acetate • Niacinamide • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Linoleic Acid • Glycine Soja Sterols • Phospholipids • Propanediol • Sodium Cocoamphoacetate • Sorbitan Isostearate • Polysorbate 60 • Oryza Sativa Bran Extract • Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract • Helianthus Annuus Extract • Tocopherol • Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum • Maltodextrin • Xanthan Gum • Lecithin • Hydrolyzed Algin • Xylitylglucoside • Anhydroxylitol • Xylitol • Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate • BHA • Sodium Hydroxide • Phenoxyethanol • Caprylyl Glycol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Hexylene Glycol

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Water

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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 Water

Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 1.

Propanediol

What it does: Solvent

Community Rating: Liked

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 Propanediol

Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 21.

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

What it does: Masking, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Mixed

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 Triglyceride

Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 2.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

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 Juice

Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 14.

Glycerin

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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 Glycerin

Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 3.

Retinol

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.

Why is retinol famous?

It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.

Retinol is proven to:

This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.

Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).

Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.

We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.

Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.

Read about Tretinoin

Learn more about Retinol

Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 9.

Tocopheryl Acetate

What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate

Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 15.

Xanthan Gum

What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Disliked

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 Gum

Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 32.

Phenoxyethanol

What it does: Preservative

Community Rating: Very Disliked

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.

Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 42.

Ethylhexylglycerin

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Mixed

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.

Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 44.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum 17 ingredients

Shani Darden Retinol Reform 43 ingredients

53% are loved or liked

18% have mixed ratings

24% are disliked or very disliked

6% have no rating yet

51% are loved or liked

23% have mixed ratings

21% are disliked or very disliked

5% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum 17 ingredients

Shani Darden Retinol Reform 43 ingredients

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum 17 ingredients

Retinol Night Renewal Serum hasn't been rated yet.

Rate it now

Shani Darden Retinol Reform 43 ingredients

4.0 /5

from 1 rating

Absorbs Well (1) Expensive (1) Light (1) Strong Scent (1) Works Well (1)

screamadelica

19 days ago · Normal Skin

Review

the ingredients are fantastic. if you’re willing to splurge on a quality retinol serum, this one would be a great choice.
however, the smell is...

the ingredients are fantastic. if you’re willing to splurge on a quality retinol serum, this one would be a great choice.
however, the smell is horrible. if you can get past the smell, though, this would probably be a great option for sensitive skin as it doesn’t have any added fragrance.