Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream versus CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum .
Last updated on December 29, 2023. Published on October 03, 2022
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. 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, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, fragrances or parabens
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Price
Ingredient Info
Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream 24 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 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 🎉
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 🎉
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:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Contains Sulfate
Ingredients in this product that are types of sulfate:
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 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream 24 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 ingredients
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 3 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 1 ingredient 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 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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:
Notable Ingredients
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 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:
Benefits
This product contains 6 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients 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:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
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:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream 24 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 ingredients
Water • C13-16 Isoparaffin • Glycerin • Diheptyl Succinate • Heptyl Undecylenate • 1,2-Hexanediol • Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer • Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate • Propanediol • Vitis Vinifera • Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Bakuchiol • Tocopherol • Acmella Oleracea Extract • Butylene Glycol • Retinol • Allantoin • Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil • Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer • Ethylhexylglycerin • Salix Alba Bark Extract • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Water • Glycerin • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Potassium Cetyl Phosphate • Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides • Polysorbate 20 • Peg-40 Stearate • Cyclopentasiloxane • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Potassium Phosphate • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Carbomer • Niacinamide • Isoceteth-10 • Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Triethanolamine • Cetearyl Alcohol • Behentrimonium Methosulfate • Cichorium Intybus Root Extract • Lecithin • Retinol • Silica • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Cholesterol • Phenoxyethanol • Tocopherol • Alcohol • Hydroxyacetophenone • Citric Acid • Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid • Pentylene Glycol • Xanthan Gum • Phytosphingosine • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Ethylhexylglycerin
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 WaterGood Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 1.
CeraVe Skin Renewing 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 GlycerinGood Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 3.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
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 TriglycerideGood Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 12.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
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 TocopherolGood Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 14.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 28.
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 RetinolGood Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 17.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.
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.
Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 21.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 37.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream 24 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream 24 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream 24 ingredients
Good beginner retinol
Been using it for almost a year, and this one tube is plenty. Just remember the precautions you need to take while wearing retinol (wearing sunscreen is a must, no acids or vit c on the day you are wearing it). I...
Good beginner retinol
Been using it for almost a year, and this one tube is plenty. Just remember the precautions you need to take while wearing retinol (wearing sunscreen is a must, no acids or vit c on the day you are wearing it). I noticed my acne scars are fading.
This triggered seborrheic dermatitis all over my face. I never had trouble with this until I used this. Now I have to use dandruff shampoo to treat the problem. :,(
This triggered seborrheic dermatitis all over my face. I never had trouble with this until I used this. Now I have to use dandruff shampoo to treat the problem. :,(
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 ingredients
Good for sensitive skin
I have tried many retinols, and retinol alternatives, and everything has burned my skin for days after each patch test. this is a great starter retinol product, or even just as a low dosage retinol if you arent...
Good for sensitive skin
I have tried many retinols, and retinol alternatives, and everything has burned my skin for days after each patch test. this is a great starter retinol product, or even just as a low dosage retinol if you arent too concerned with fine lines just yet. Use once a week currently and use it stand alone from my daily skin care routine just because it has so many good ingredients.
Alternatives
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