Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol versus The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum .
Last updated on July 20, 2023. Published on April 21, 2022
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe . They have a total of 6 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, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Ingredient Info
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol 31 ingredients
The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum 24 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol 31 ingredients
The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum 24 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Benefits
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol 31 ingredients
The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum 24 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Propanediol • Cetyl Ethylhexanoate • C13-15 Alkane • Cetyl Alcohol • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Cetearyl Olivate • Coconut Alkanes • Sorbitan Olivate • Potassium Cetyl Phosphate • Betaine • Retinyl Sunflowerseedate • Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract • Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract • Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Sodium Hyaluronate • Tocopherol • Coco-Caprylate/Caprate • Ethylhexylglycerin • Glycol Stearate • Glyceryl Stearate • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Maltodextrin • Xanthan Gum • Benzoic Acid • Sodium Hydroxide • Carbomer • Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water • Glycerin • Prunus Armeniaca Juice • Elaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil • Persea Gratissima Oil • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Squalane • Cetearyl Alcohol • Glyceryl Stearate Se • Retinol • Phenoxyethanol • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Benzyl Alcohol • Phospholipids • Tocopherol • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 • Glycine Soja Oil • Ethylhexylglycerin • Glycolipids • Dehydroacetic Acid • Polysorbate 60 • Sorbitan Isostearate • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Glycine Soja Sterols
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 WaterGlossier Universal Pro-Retinol contains this as ingredient number 1.
The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 GlycerinGlossier Universal Pro-Retinol contains this as ingredient number 2.
The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
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 TocopherolGlossier Universal Pro-Retinol contains this as ingredient number 19.
The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol contains this as ingredient number 21.
The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.
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 TriglycerideGlossier Universal Pro-Retinol contains this as ingredient number 24.
The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This prevents unwanted reactions in products. Metal ions can come into a product via the water ingredient. They are found in trace amounts and are not known to be harmful.
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol contains this as ingredient number 31.
The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol 31 ingredients
The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum 24 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol 31 ingredients
The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum 24 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum 24 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 9 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol.
See 9 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 36 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum.
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