Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Texture Renewal Serum Versus MediCube One Day Zero Exosome Shot
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Mandelic Acid
AntimicrobialRetinol
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
AntimicrobialNephelium Lappaceum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialSqualane
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingSalicylic Acid
MaskingSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSoy Isoflavones
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantUbiquinone
AntioxidantSodium PCA
HumectantHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialQuercetin
AntioxidantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Propylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Lactic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Mandelic Acid, Retinol, Bakuchiol, Nephelium Lappaceum Leaf Extract, Ferulic Acid, Squalane, Linoleic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Phospholipids, Soy Isoflavones, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharide Isomerate, Ubiquinone, Sodium PCA, Hexylresorcinol, Quercetin, Adenosine, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Panthenol, Glycolic Acid, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Potassium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientHydrolyzed Sponge
Skin ConditioningC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningCalcium Silicate
AbsorbentLactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles
Campsis Grandiflora Flower Extract
AntioxidantPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Silicate
BufferingBetaine Salicylate
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hydrolyzed Sponge, C12-14 Alketh-12, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Calcium Silicate, Lactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles, Campsis Grandiflora Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Sodium Silicate, Betaine Salicylate, Citric Acid, Gluconolactone
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water