Meaningful Beauty Age Recovery Night Crème with Melon Extract & Retinol Versus The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion
This anti-aging night moisturizer is formulated around Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
This anti-aging emulsion is formulated around Retinal and Ergothioneine to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Distearate
Emulsifying
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Dicaprylyl Maleate
Emollient
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Polyacrylate-13
Castor Isostearate Succinate
Skin Conditioning
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningVegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Orchid Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningOlivine Extract
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
Humectant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Jojoba Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Jojobate
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Palmitoyl Sarcosinate
CleansingMagnesium Palmitoyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningDecarboxy Carnosine Hcl
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
ChelatingBHT
Antioxidant
BHA
Antioxidant
Tocotrienols
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
ChelatingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
CI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-10 Distearate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Polysorbate 20, Dicaprylyl Maleate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polyacrylate-13, Castor Isostearate Succinate, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Vegetable Oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Retinol, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Orchid Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Olivine Extract, Soluble Collagen, C14-22 Alcohols, Jojoba Alcohol, Potassium Jojobate, Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Palmitoyl Proline, Palmitic Acid, Ethylene Brassylate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Hexapeptide-9, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Palmitoyl Sarcosinate, Magnesium Palmitoyl Glutamate, Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl, Disodium EDTA, BHT, BHA, Tocotrienols, Tetrasodium EDTA, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, CI 16035
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyapatite
Abrasive
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin Conditioning4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningErgothioneine
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientHexyldecanol
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Isoceteth-20
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyapatite, Retinal, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Ergothioneine, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Bisabolol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Hexyldecanol, Maltodextrin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Isoceteth-20, Polysorbate 60, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
