Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Cocokind Beginner Retinol Gel 0.1% versus CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum .
Last updated on October 25, 2023. Published on December 26, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA, hyaluronic acid, 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 common allergens, fragrances or parabens
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Ingredient Info
Cocokind Beginner Retinol Gel 0.1% 31 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
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 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Contains Sulfate
Ingredients in this product that are types of sulfate:
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 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Cocokind Beginner Retinol Gel 0.1% 31 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Cocokind Beginner Retinol Gel 0.1% 31 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Coco-Caprylate/Caprate • Fructooligosaccharides • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract • Squalane • Pentylene Glycol • Retinol • Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate • Retinal • Tocopherol • Centella Asiatica Extract • Allantoin • Beta Vulgaris Root Extract • Glycine Soja Oil • Sodium Hyaluronate • Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide • Caprylyl Glycol • Potassium Lactate • Cellulose • Dimethyl Isosorbide • Hexylene Glycol • Propanediol • Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate • Lactic Acid • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Citric Acid • Sodium Hydroxide
Water • Glycerin • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Potassium Cetyl Phosphate • Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides • Polysorbate 20 • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Peg-40 Stearate • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Cyclopentasiloxane • Dimethicone • Triethanolamine • Cetearyl Alcohol • Pentylene Glycol • Lecithin • Xanthan Gum • Hydroxyacetophenone • Phenoxyethanol • Citric Acid • Behentrimonium Methosulfate • Cichorium Intybus Root Extract • Tocopherol • Niacinamide • Alcohol • Retinol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Silica • Potassium Phosphate • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Hyaluronic Acid • Sodium Hydroxide • Ceramide 3 • Ceramide AP • Phytosphingosine • Cholesterol • Carbomer • Ceramide 1
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 WaterCocokind Beginner Retinol Gel 0.1% contains this as ingredient number 1.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 GlycerinCocokind Beginner Retinol Gel 0.1% contains this as ingredient number 2.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
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 TriglycerideCocokind Beginner Retinol Gel 0.1% contains this as ingredient number 4.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
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 GlycolCocokind Beginner Retinol Gel 0.1% contains this as ingredient number 9.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.
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 RetinolCocokind Beginner Retinol Gel 0.1% contains this as ingredient number 10.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 25.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolCocokind Beginner Retinol Gel 0.1% contains this as ingredient number 13.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 22.
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.
Cocokind Beginner Retinol Gel 0.1% contains this as ingredient number 28.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.
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.
Cocokind Beginner Retinol Gel 0.1% contains this as ingredient number 29.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.
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 AcidCocokind Beginner Retinol Gel 0.1% contains this as ingredient number 30.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideCocokind Beginner Retinol Gel 0.1% contains this as ingredient number 31.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 31.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Cocokind Beginner Retinol Gel 0.1% 31 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Cocokind Beginner Retinol Gel 0.1% 31 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 ingredients
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