Mary Kay TimeWise Repair Volu-Firm Night Treatment with Retinol Versus CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin
Updated on February 03, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe night moisturizers. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain peptides
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils or parabens
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
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
Mary Kay TimeWise Repair Volu-Firm Night Treatment with Retinol 37 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin 40 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Mary Kay TimeWise Repair Volu-Firm Night Treatment with Retinol 37 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin 40 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingIsocetyl Stearate
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCodium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingTripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture
Antioxidant
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Cetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Tricaprylin
Masking
Triethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
BHT
Antioxidant
Magnesium Chloride
Water, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isocetyl Stearate, Retinol, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Tripeptide-1, Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Tricaprylin, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Xanthan Gum, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Chlorphenesin, BHT, Magnesium Chloride
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Saccharide Isomerate
HumectantStearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-9
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDextran
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Saccharide Isomerate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Glycine Soja Sterols, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Tripeptide-1, Laureth-9, Citric Acid, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Dextran, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol
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 GlycerinCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholButyrospermum Parkii Butter is a plant lipid from the fruit of the Shea Tree. It is an effective skin hydrator and emollient.
Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. It does this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Shea butter is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may harm the body. It is also full of fatty acids including stearic acid and linoleic acid. These acids help replenish the skin and keep skin moisturized.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
Shea butter may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterThis ingredient is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid.
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 TriglycerideTripeptide-1 is a peptide. It can help to reduce the effects of aging.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeCarbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Xanthan 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 GumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Mary Kay TimeWise Repair Volu-Firm Night Treatment with Retinol 37 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin 40 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Mary Kay TimeWise Repair Volu-Firm Night Treatment with Retinol 37 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream to Soften Skin 40 ingredients
Favorite for buffering or sandwiching retinoids!
When I first started my strong retinoid journey to help deal with my acne I was on the hunt for a thick moisturizer to help act as a buffer to my adapalene gel and to ease me through the retinization process. However I didn’t want anything too occlusive either, so I wanted to avoid petrolatum and oils (not all oils are super occlusive, but I wanted Show more
Simple, very hydrating night time moisturizer. My skin loves this stuff. Bonus points for being affordable
