For Skin’s Sake (FSS) Hexylresorcinol Serum 1% With Resveratrol Versus For Skin’s Sake (FSS) Retinal Serum 0.15% With Samphira Oil
This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Hexylresorcinol to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Lactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate and Retinal to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-75 Stearate
SurfactantCeteareth-20
CleansingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveDiglucosyl Gallic Acid
Resveratrol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Water, Triethylhexanoin, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Hexylresorcinol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Tromethamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-75 Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Cyclodextrin, Disodium EDTA, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, BHT, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Resveratrol, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantTriethylhexanoin
MaskingLactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeRetinal
Skin ConditioningPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantSucrose Laurate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantPEG-75 Stearate
SurfactantWater, Glycerin, Triethylhexanoin, Lactobacillus/Collagen/Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Leaf Extract Ferment Lysate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Retinal, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Tromethamine, Polyglutamic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Sucrose Laurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, PEG-75 Stearate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePEG-75 Stearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Triethylhexanoin is created from glycerin and 2-ethylhexanoic acid. It is a solvent and emollient.
As a solvent, Triethylhexanoin helps dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
It is also an emollient and helps condition the skin.
Learn more about TriethylhexanoinTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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