Glow Recipe Blackberry Retinol Blemish Serum Versus MediCube Collagen Glow Bubble Serum
Updated on September 04, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 5 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 harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances and oils
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
Glow Recipe Blackberry Retinol Blemish Serum 28 ingredients
MediCube Collagen Glow Bubble Serum 61 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Glow Recipe Blackberry Retinol Blemish Serum 28 ingredients
MediCube Collagen Glow Bubble Serum 61 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentBisabolol
Masking
Retinyl Linoleate
Skin Conditioning
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Erythritol
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Squalane, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Ectoin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, Retinyl Linoleate, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Retinal, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Retinol, Tocopherol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Erythritol, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glycine Soja Oil, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
SolventSoluble Collagen
Humectant
Glycereth-26
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Collagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Atelocollagen
Skin Conditioning
Desamido Collagen
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Brassica Campestris Sterols
Emollient
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Ceteth-5
EmulsifyingCeteth-3
EmulsifyingCollagen
Moisturising
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Procollagen
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Soluble Collagen Crosspolymer
Emollient
Rosin Hydrolyzed Collagen
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Myristoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Soluble Collagen, Glycereth-26, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Allantoin, Collagen Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Atelocollagen, Desamido Collagen, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Caprylyl Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Cholesterol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sorbitan Laurate, Silica, Retinal, Glutathione, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Thioctic Acid, Ceteth-5, Ceteth-3, Collagen, Collagen Amino Acids, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Procollagen, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Disodium EDTA, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Soluble Collagen Crosspolymer, Rosin Hydrolyzed Collagen, Potassium Myristoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Parfum
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGlycerin 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 GlycerinRetinal is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the gold-standard class of anti-aging ingredients.
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.
All 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 frequently.
Using the 'ramp up' method, start by using retinol once a week. This gives your skin time to adjust and decrease irritation. Once you feel ready, you can slowly increase the frequency of retinol use.
Using 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.
Learn more about RetinalEthylhexylglycerin (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.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Glow Recipe Blackberry Retinol Blemish Serum 28 ingredients
MediCube Collagen Glow Bubble Serum 61 ingredients
