Dr Sam’s Flawless Nightly Serum Versus Skin Rocks Retinoid 2
Updated on August 15, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain 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 or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances 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.
Ingredient Info
Dr Sam’s Flawless Nightly Serum 20 ingredients
Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 45 ingredients
What's inside
What's inside
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Dr Sam’s Flawless Nightly Serum 20 ingredients
Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 45 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Tapioca Starch
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Azelaic Acid, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Bakuchiol, Tapioca Starch, Benzyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Disodium EDTA, Dehydroacetic Acid, Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDiisopropyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polysilicone-11
Bidens Pilosa Extract
HumectantHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Polyisobutene
Bisabolol
Masking
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingWater, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Isononyl Isononanoate, Diisopropyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Glycerin, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Bakuchiol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Retinal, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysilicone-11, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Polyisobutene, Bisabolol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phytosterols, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phospholipids, Phenethyl Alcohol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant (it's vegan!). It is often called the replacement for retinol although it is not part of the same family.
It has similar effects as retinol: skin smoothing, reducing discoloration, and preventing wrinkles. It does not cause as much irritation as traditional retinoids.
Bakuchiol works by breaking down free radicals and stimulating collagen production in skin.
Combining bakuchiol with retinol will not have adverse side effects. Studies show using them will just boost the benefits. Bakuchiol is also found to help stabilize retinol.
While bakuchiol does not make the skin more sun sensitive, we recommend wearing SPF on a daily basis.
Read more about traditional retinol
Learn more about BakuchiolBenzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholDimethyl Isosorbide is a solvent and helps deliver actives into your skin. It is created from sorbitol.
As a solvent, dimethyl isosorbide helps dissolve other ingredients. This helps ensure even distribution of an ingredient. It may also be used to decrease the thickness of a product.
Studies show dimethyl isosorbide is able to penetrate skin to deliver other ingredients into the skin, making them more effective.
Learn more about Dimethyl IsosorbideGlycerin 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is a retinoid. It usually goes by a more common name: "Granactive".
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR) belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes retinol and tretinoin.
Retinoids have been proven to:
So what is the difference between all the retinoids?
Most retinoids need to go through a conversion line to become effective on skin. The ending product is retinoic acid. Retinoic acid is AKA tretinoin.
HPR is an ester of tretinoin. Emerging studies suggest HPR to have an added benefit that other retinoids don't have: Low irritation.
A study from 2021 found HPR to have the greatest stability when exposed to light and temperature out of all the commercial retinoids.
A note about naming:
The name "Granactive" is the trade name and the name most commonly used on packages.
Granactive is the name of the mixture - about 90% solvent and 10% HPR. A product with 5% granactive has 0.5% HPR.
Learn more about Hydroxypinacolone RetinoatePolymethylsilsesquioxane is a silicone used as a film forming agent.
When applied to the skin, this ingredient creates an invisible film on the surface. This film still allows oxygen to pass through, but prevents moisture from escaping. This can help condition and hydrate the skin. It also leaves a silky feel when applied.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane has not been shown to clog pores. It has been deemed safe to use up to 55%, but most cosmetics use much less.
If you have concerns about using this ingredient, we recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about PolymethylsilsesquioxaneWater. 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 WaterXanthan 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 GumIngredient Ratings
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When to use
Dr Sam’s Flawless Nightly Serum 20 ingredients
Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 45 ingredients
Reviews
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