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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum versus Filorga Skin-Unify Intensive Illuminating Even Skintone Serum .

Last updated on December 13, 2023. Published on January 26, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and retinoid

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 parabens

What's Inside

They both contain harsh alcohols and sulfates

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

Serum Canadian Brand Canada
Serum French Brand France

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

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant 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

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid
Niacinamide
Ceramides (3)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (4)
Good For Oily Skin (2)
Redness Reducing (6)
Reduces Irritation (4)
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Anti-Aging (4)
Dark Spots (3)
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating (2)
Rosacea
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

AHA
Retinoid
Vitamin C (2)
Vitamin E (2)
Exfoliators
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
Peptides

Benefits

Hydrating (4)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Skin Texture (4)
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Anti-Aging (5)
Dark Spots (4)
Scar Healing (4)
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (7)

Concerns

Drying (3)
May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating (4)
Rosacea (5)
Eczema (3)
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Ingredients Compared

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

WaterGlycereth-26SqualaneButylene GlycolCoco-Caprylate/CapratePentylene GlycolSucrose PalmitateMethyl Methacrylate CrosspolymerGlycerinPhenoxyethanolParfumBisabololGlyceryl LinoleateAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerSodium Potassium Aluminum SilicateAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis OilTocopheryl AcetateLauryl GlucosidePolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate O-Cymen-5-OlCI 77891SilicaSodium ChlorideSodium HydroxideDisodium EDTABenzyl AlcoholGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractMagnesium Ascorbyl PhosphateSodium HyaluronateCitric AcidPotassium SorbateCystoseira Tamariscifolia ExtractAchillea Millefolium ExtractXanthan GumCaprylyl GlycolGlucosePotassium ChlorideCalcium ChlorideMagnesium SulfateGlutamineAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2Undaria Pinnatifida ExtractSodium PhosphateAscorbic AcidSodium AcetateTocopherolLysine HclArginine HclAlanineHistidine HclValineLeucineThreonineIsoleucineTryptophanPhenylalanineTyrosineGlycinePolysorbate 80SerineCystineCyanocobalaminGlutathioneAsparagineAspartic AcidOrnithine HclGlutamic AcidNicotinamide Adenine DinucleotideProlineMethionineTaurineHydroxyprolineGlucosamine HclCoenzyme ASodium GlucuronateThiamine DiphosphateRetinyl AcetateInositolNiacinNiacinamidePyridoxine HclBiotinCalcium PantothenateRiboflavinSodium Tocopheryl PhosphateThiamine HclFolic Acid

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.

1
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

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Filorga Skin-Unify Intensive Illuminating Even Skintone Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Smoothing
Community Rating: Loved

Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.

It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.

Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.

The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.

Learn more about Niacinamide

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

Filorga Skin-Unify Intensive Illuminating Even Skintone Serum contains this as ingredient number 81.

3
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

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 Hyaluronate

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.

Filorga Skin-Unify Intensive Illuminating Even Skintone Serum contains this as ingredient number 30.

4
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.

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.

Filorga Skin-Unify Intensive Illuminating Even Skintone Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.

5
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

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

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.

Filorga Skin-Unify Intensive Illuminating Even Skintone Serum contains this as ingredient number 36.

6
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 27.

Filorga Skin-Unify Intensive Illuminating Even Skintone Serum contains this as ingredient number 31.

7
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.

The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.

This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.

Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.

Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.

Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.

Learn more about Pentylene Glycol

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 29.

Filorga Skin-Unify Intensive Illuminating Even Skintone Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

8
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

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 31.

Filorga Skin-Unify Intensive Illuminating Even Skintone Serum contains this as ingredient number 35.

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

52% are loved or liked
9% have mixed ratings
39% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet
49% are loved or liked
7% have mixed ratings
23% are disliked or very disliked
22% have no rating yet

Usage

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

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum 33 ingredients

4.1 /5
from 19 ratings
Great Value (3) Light (3) Works Well (2) Hydrating (2) Absorbs Well (2) No Scent (1)
SkincareSimba's avatar

SkincareSimba

2 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

The only retinol my partner's skin can tolerate.
Their skin is extremely reactive and sensitive but this retinol has worked great.

I also use...

The only retinol my partner's skin can tolerate.
Their skin is extremely reactive and sensitive but this retinol has worked great.

I also use it every other day because I alternate between this retinol and A313.
It works great and is gentle enough to allow me to build tolerance without purging effects (at least on my skin and my partner's)

CentellaAddict's avatar

CentellaAddict

5 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

No more acne, very slow at reducing pigmentation tho

Filorga Skin-Unify Intensive Illuminating Even Skintone Serum 88 ingredients

Skin-Unify Intensive Illuminating Even Skintone Serum hasn't been rated yet.
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Our Dupe Finder has found 4 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Filorga Skin-Unify Intensive Illuminating Even Skintone Serum.

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