Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate Versus Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingLimonene
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Citronellol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Adenosine, Faex Extract, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Limonene, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Octyldodecanol, Citronellol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientC12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientAlgae Extract
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Coffea Arabica Seed Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Urea
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
PEG-100 Stearate
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriacetin
AntimicrobialPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Phenyl Trimethicone, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Algae Extract, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Cetyl Alcohol, Retinol, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Ascorbic Acid, Urea, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Trehalose, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-100 Stearate, Linoleic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sorbitol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Triacetin, Polyquaternium-51, Xanthan Gum, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
