What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Retinal 0.2%
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantIsododecane
EmollientCyclodextrin
AbsorbentCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingRubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyaspartate
HumectantTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantDipteryx Odorata Bean Extract
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAlumina
AbrasiveLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
PerfumingIsostearic Acid
CleansingLecithin
EmollientLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingCoumarin
PerfumingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantRetinal 0.2%, Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isododecane, Cyclodextrin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Sodium Polyaspartate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Dipteryx Odorata Bean Extract, BHT, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Titanium Dioxide, Phenoxyethanol, Alumina, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Stearic Acid, Coumarin, CI 14700
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHexyldecanol
EmollientDisiloxane
Skin ConditioningCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningPPG-24-Glycereth-24
EmulsifyingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantHoney Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantAlgae Extract
EmollientZingiber Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantCetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Benzoic Acid
MaskingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeSodium Phytate
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientPvp
Emulsion StabilisingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialPotassium Phosphate
BufferingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Propanediol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Triheptanoin, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Hexyldecanol, Disiloxane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Diheptyl Succinate, Propylene Carbonate, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, PPG-24-Glycereth-24, Phenyl Trimethicone, Retinol, Ubiquinone, Honey Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Algae Extract, Zingiber Officinale Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phospholipids, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Lecithin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, 1,2-Hexanediol, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sorbitol, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Polysilicone-11, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Polysorbate 80, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Stearic Acid, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Pvp, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Decyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic Acid