Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream Versus Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum
This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Retinol and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
This smoothing serum is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Mandelic Acid to refine skin texture and clear breakouts.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Xanthophylls
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Physalis Pubescens Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Glucosamine Hcl
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrideceth-6 Phosphate
EmulsifyingN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLaureth-23
Cleansing
Steareth-20
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
ChelatingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate, Stearic Acid, Coconut Alkanes, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Retinol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Chrysin, Persea Gratissima Oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Ceramide NP, Xanthophylls, Phytosphingosine, Phytosterols, Jojoba Esters, Physalis Pubescens Fruit Juice, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Cetyl Palmitate, Trehalose, Lauric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glucosamine Hcl, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Pisum Sativum Extract, Tocopherol, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Hydroxide, Laureth-23, Steareth-20, Propanediol, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Polysorbate 20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventC9-12 Alkane
SolventFragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Succinic Acid
BufferingFragaria Vesca Leaf Extract
AstringentAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glucosamine
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentPolydextrose
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Amylopectin
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Succinoglycan
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
ChelatingLecithin
Emollient
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Water, Methylpropanediol, C9-12 Alkane, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Salicylic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Mandelic Acid, Succinic Acid, Fragaria Vesca Leaf Extract, Azelaic Acid, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bisabolol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Niacinamide, Glucosamine, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Dextrin, Polydextrose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Amylopectin, Butylene Glycol, Succinoglycan, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lauroyl Lysine, Sodium Phytate, Lecithin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Parfum
Reviews
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 is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
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.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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
