Boots Vitamin C Brightening Sleeping Mask

Versus

Boots Vitamin C Brightening Sleeping Mask Versus CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum - USA

Overnight Mask

Serum

British Brand

American Brand

Updated on May 19, 2025

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any oils or parabens

What's Inside

They both contain harsh alcohols and silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

New Comparison

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

Boots Vitamin C Brightening Sleeping Mask 38 ingredients

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum 33 ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Boots Vitamin C Brightening Sleeping Mask 38 ingredients

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum 33 ingredients

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products

Vitamin C Brightening Sleeping Mask

Water

Skin Conditioning

Glycerin

Humectant

0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Cyclopentasiloxane

Betaine

Dimethicone

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

Antimicrobial

Polyacrylamide

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative

Cetearyl Olivate

C13-14 Isoparaffin

Sorbitan Olivate

Dimethiconol

Phenyl Trimethicone

Laureth-7

Carbomer

Disodium EDTA

Tocopheryl Acetate

Urea

Parfum

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol

Humectant

1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Potassium Hydroxide

Sodium Citrate

Benzophenone-4

Limonene

Dipropylene Glycol

Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate

Antioxidant

Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Benzyl Benzoate

Hexyl Cinnamal

Linalool

Butylphenyl Methylpropional

Perfuming

Benzyl Salicylate

Perfuming

Citrus Junos Fruit Extract

Citral

Hydroxycitronellal

Denatonium Benzoate

Resurfacing Retinol Serum

Water

Propanediol

Dimethicone

Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate

Emollient

Niacinamide

Smoothing

Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Emulsion Stabilising

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Humectant

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Potassium Phosphate

Ceramide NP

Ceramide AP

Ceramide EOP

Carbomer

Cetearyl Alcohol

2 / 1 Fatty Alcohol Icon

Behentrimonium Methosulfate

Dimethiconol

Lecithin

Sodium Citrate

Retinol

Sodium Hyaluronate

0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate

Emulsifying

Cholesterol

Emollient

0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative

Alcohol

Antimicrobial

Isopropyl Myristate

Emollient

3-5 / 3 May worsen Oily Skin Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Citric Acid

Buffering

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Pentylene Glycol

Phytosphingosine

Xanthan Gum

Polysorbate 20

0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

Carbomer

Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.

A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.

Dimethicone

Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.

What it does:

Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:

Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.

Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.

This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.

Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.

Learn more about Dimethicone

Dimethiconol

Emollient, Moisturising

Dimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.

This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.

Sodium Citrate

Buffering, Masking

Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.

Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.

The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).

Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.

Learn more about Sodium Citrate

Water

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water