Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum Versus Biossance Squalane + Retinol Night Serum

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum versus Biossance Squalane + Retinol Night Serum .

Published on March 18, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe serums. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain 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 harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain oils

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

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Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum

Biossance Squalane + Retinol Night Serum

Serum American Brand United States

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

Shop

Buy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum

Starts at $71.25

Shop

Buy Squalane + Retinol Night Serum

Starts at $72.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum 44 ingredients

Biossance Squalane + Retinol Night Serum 23 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

Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum 44 ingredients

Biossance Squalane + Retinol Night Serum 23 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

AHA

Retinoid (2)

Vitamin E (2)

Ceramides

Benefits

Hydrating (4)

Good For Oily Skin (2)

Redness Reducing (2)

Reduces Irritation (4)

Skin Texture (3)

Reduces Large Pores (3)

Anti-Aging (6)

Dark Spots (3)

Scar Healing (5)

Acne Fighting (2)

Brightening (5)

Concerns

Drying (2)

May Worsen Oily Skin

Irritating (4)

Rosacea (2)

Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid (2)

Vitamin E

Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating (3)

Good For Oily Skin (2)

Redness Reducing

Reduces Irritation

Skin Texture (2)

Reduces Large Pores (2)

Anti-Aging (3)

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing (4)

Acne Fighting (2)

Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying (2)

May Worsen Oily Skin

Acne Trigger

Irritating (3)

Rosacea

Eczema

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Ingredients Compared

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

Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum 44 ingredients

Biossance Squalane + Retinol Night Serum 23 ingredients

Water • Glycerin • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Isopentyldiol • Trioctyldodecyl Citrate • Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil • 1,2-Hexanediol • Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil • Panthenol • Triolein • Retinal • Ceramide NP • Tocopherol • Retinol • Tocopheryl Acetate • Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Copernicia Cerifera Wax • Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil • Glyceryl Dioleate • Bisabolol • Allantoin • Dunaliella Salina Extract • Ethyl Ferulate • Humulus Lupulus Extract • Zingiber Officinale Root Extract • Arginine • Propanediol • Cellulose Gum • Sclerotium Gum • Ubiquinone • Lactic Acid • Sodium Phytate • Caprylyl Glycol • Inulin • Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate • Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil • Polysorbate 20 • Citric Acid • Cellulose • Fructose • Glucose • Sorbitan Isostearate • Xanthan Gum

Water • Squalane • Glycerin • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Cetearyl Olivate • Sorbitan Olivate • Retinol • Retinal • Allantoin • Crocus Sativus Stigma Extract • Pseudozyma Epicola/Avocado Oil Ferment Extract • Tocopherol • Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract • Oryza Sativa Bran Extract • Cetearyl Alcohol • Helianthus Annuus Extract • Hydroxyapatite • Dextrin • Carbomer • Sodium Gluconate • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Sodium Hydroxide

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.

Water

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

Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Biossance Squalane + Retinol Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Glycerin

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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 Glycerin

Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

Biossance Squalane + Retinol Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

What it does: Masking, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Mixed

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 Triglyceride

Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

Biossance Squalane + Retinol Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

Retinal

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

Retinal is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are a group of vitamin A compounds with anti-aging and acne fighting benefits.

Retinal has many benefits as other retinoids: improve skin texture, reduce large pores, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, heal scars, and fight acne.

Studies show retinal may work at a faster rate than retinol due to its structure. Retinoids have to be converted into retinoic acid before starting to work. Some retinoids take several steps of conversion before binding. Retinal is only one step away, making it more potent.

Like other retinoids, retinal may be irritating. It is best to ease into using this ingredient daily. It is best to avoid mixing other active ingredients if you have sensitive skin.

Learn more about Retinal

Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.

Biossance Squalane + Retinol Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

Tocopherol

What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

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 Tocopherol

Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

Biossance Squalane + Retinol Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.

Retinol

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Retinol is a form of Vitamin A and proven to help with anti-aging.

It promotes collagen production, increases new cell turnoever, and protects your skin as an antioxidant.

Retinol boosts collagen production and increases cell turnover. This makes retinol effective in removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, and reducing the appearance of pores.

Retinol is less effective when exposed to sun. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent.

Using retinol and retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few weeks of use. 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 Retinol

Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.

Biossance Squalane + Retinol Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.

Allantoin

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing

Community Rating: Loved