Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Joanna Vargas Daily Serum versus ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener .
Published on May 11, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 11 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain PHA, retinoid, Vitamin C 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 or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances and silicones
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
Joanna Vargas Daily Serum 22 ingredients
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 49 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
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 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are 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:
Contains 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:
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
Joanna Vargas Daily Serum 22 ingredients
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 49 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Joanna Vargas Daily Serum 22 ingredients
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 49 ingredients
Water • Hyaluronic Acid • Glycerin • Copper Chlorophyll • Galactoarabinan • Avena Sativa Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice • Sodium Ascorbate • Tocopheryl Acetate • Glyceryl Linoleate • Retinyl Palmitate • Gluconolactone • Sodium Benzoate • Cellulose Gum • Sorbitol • Xanthan Gum • Disodium EDTA • Phenoxyethanol • Polysorbate 80 • Dimethicone • Alcohol • Limonene • Linalool
Water • Dimethicone • Cetearyl Isononanoate • Glycerin • Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil • Cetearyl Alcohol • Cetyl Alcohol • Steareth-20 • Pentylene Glycol • Ascorbyl Glucoside • Acrylamide/Ammonium Acrylate Copolymer • Polysorbate 20 • Retinol • Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil • Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil • Lavandula Angustifolia Oil • Propylheptyl Caprylate • Bakuchiol • Acetyl Glucosamine • Cetearyl Glucoside • Lecithin • Polyisobutene • Alcohol • Glutathione • Carbomer • Caprylyl Glycol • Bisabolol • 1,2-Hexanediol • Silica • Polysorbate 80 • BHA • Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate • Disodium EDTA • Sorbitan Isostearate • Gluconolactone • Tocopheryl Acetate • Sodium Sulfite • Sodium Metabisulfite • Ascorbyl Palmitate • Soy Isoflavones • Sodium Hydroxide • Potassium Sorbate • Sodium Benzoate • Linalool • Citronellol • Geraniol • Limonene • Citral • Coumarin
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 WaterJoanna Vargas Daily Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 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 GlycerinJoanna Vargas Daily Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 4.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateJoanna Vargas Daily Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 36.
Gluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs have a larger structure than AHAs and BHAs and are more gentle. It is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This helps improve texture and brightens the skin.
Gluconolactone is a humectant and helps draw moisture to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
PHAs also exhibit antioxidant activity by neutralizing free-radical molecules. This can help with anti-aging.
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells. However, we still recommend wearing SPF especially after using exfoliating ingredients.
Learn more about GluconolactoneJoanna Vargas Daily Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 35.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
Sodium Benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateJoanna Vargas Daily Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 43.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAJoanna Vargas Daily Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 33.
Polysorbate 80 is a surfactant and emulsifier. It is used to keep ingredients together, and prevent oils and waters from separating.
It is made from polyethoxylated sorbitan and oleic acid. This ingredient can be found in cosmetics, foods, and medicine. It is water-soluble.
Polysorbate 80 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 80Joanna Vargas Daily Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 30.
Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.
Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.
Joanna Vargas Daily Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 2.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is usually an astringent alcohol.
These alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Fatty alcohols come from plant oils such as coconut oil. These can help hydrate the skin and are non-irritating. Some fatty alcohols include cetyl and stearyl alcohol.
Learn more about AlcoholJoanna Vargas Daily Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 23.
Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneJoanna Vargas Daily Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 47.
Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Linalool has the same effect as Limonene when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
Linalool has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolJoanna Vargas Daily Serum contains this as ingredient number 22.
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 44.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Joanna Vargas Daily Serum 22 ingredients
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 49 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Joanna Vargas Daily Serum 22 ingredients
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 49 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Joanna Vargas Daily Serum 22 ingredients
Staci
I hate how expensive this is, but it feels great on my skin and is both light and hydrating. Plus it wears well under makeup. I find my skin...
I hate how expensive this is, but it feels great on my skin and is both light and hydrating. Plus it wears well under makeup. I find my skin looking brighter and more dewy after using this on my face.
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 49 ingredients
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Our Dupe Finder has found 11 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Joanna Vargas Daily Serum.
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