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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 versus Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum .

Last updated on August 14, 2023. Published on May 31, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free serums. They have a total of 17 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid, retinoid 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 harsh alcohols, parabens or silicones

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and oils

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Serum British Brand United Kingdom
Serum South Korean Brand South Korea

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy Crystal Retinal 6

Starts at $81.00
Shop

Buy Retinal for All Renewing Serum

Starts at $55.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid
Vitamin C (2)
Vitamin E
Exfoliators
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (2)
Skin Texture (3)
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (3)
Dark Spots (3)
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating
Rosacea

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid
Vitamin E
Ceramides (4)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (7)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (5)
Reduces Irritation (5)
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (6)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating (2)
Rosacea
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Water • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Cetearyl Alcohol • Butylene Glycol • Glycerin • Cyclodextrin • Sorbitan Stearate • Cetyl Ethylhexanoate • Daucus Carota Sativa Root Water • Camellia Japonica Flower Extract • Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil • Sodium Hyaluronate • Ectoin • Behenic Acid • Eclipta Prostrata Extract • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 • Bisabolol • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Phytosphingosine • Cholesterol • Rhynchosia Nulubilis Seed Extract • Retinal • Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract • Dextrin • Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract • Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil • Ceramide EOP • Polyacrylate-13 • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract • Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract • Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract • Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract • Hydrogenated Polyisobutene • Methylpropanediol • Potassium Sorbate • Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate • Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate • Glyceryl Caprylate • Hydroxyacetophenone • Phytosteryl Oleate • Sucrose Cocoate • Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate • Ethylhexyl Palmitate • Sorbitan Isostearate • Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate • Pentylene Glycol • Ceramide Ns • Triethyl Citrate • Tocopherol • Sodium Levulinate • Glyceryl Stearate • Sorbitan Olivate • Ethylhexylglycerin • Cetearyl Olivate • Propanediol

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Water

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 1.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.

Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.

Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.

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 Triglyceride

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 2.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Glycerin

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 3.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

4
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Cetearyl Olivate is an emulsifier and texture enhancer. It is derived from the fatty acids of olive oil and Cetearyl alcohol, and is biodegradable.

As an emulsifier, it is used to prevent oils and waters from separating. It can also

Manufacturers use the name Olivem 1000. This ingredient has been found to preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria. This ingredient is grouped with Sorbitan Olivate under the name Olivem 1000.

Learn more about Cetearyl Olivate

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 5.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum contains this as ingredient number 56.

5
What it does: Absorbent

We don't have a description for Cyclodextrin.

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 7.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

6
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Cetearyl 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 Alcohol

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 8.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

7
What it does: Emulsifying
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Sorbitan Olivate is created from the fatty acids in olive oil and sorbitol.

Sorbitan Olivate is an oil in water emulsifier. It helps stabilize a product by preventing oils and waters from separating. Sorbitan Olivate also helps hydrate the skin.

Manufacturers sell sorbitan olivate under the name OliveM 1000. OliveM 1000 a multifunctional ingredient. It is self-emulsifying. According to a manufacturer, OliveM 1000 does not disrupt natural skin biome.

Learn more about Sorbitan Olivate

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 9.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum contains this as ingredient number 54.

8
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Disliked

This is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.

It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 12.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum contains this as ingredient number 30.

9
What it does: Antioxidant
Community Rating: Liked

Hydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant and helps with skin conditioning.

Antioxidants help fight off free-radical molecules. These unstable molecules may damage your skin cells. By helping stabilize free-radicals, antioxidants may help in anti-aging.

Hydroxyacetophenone boosts the efficiency of other preservatives.

Learn more about Hydroxyacetophenone

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 13.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum contains this as ingredient number 41.

10
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

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 Hyaluronate

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 17.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.

11
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil is an oil and isn't fungal acne safe.

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 19.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.

12
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.

The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.

This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.

Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.

Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.

Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.

Learn more about Pentylene Glycol

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 20.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum contains this as ingredient number 48.

13
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Retinal is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are a group of vitamin A compounds with anti-aging and acne fighting benefits.

Retinal has many benefits as other retinoids: improve skin texture, reduce large pores, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, heal scars, and fight acne.

Studies show retinal may work at a faster rate than retinol due to its structure. Retinoids have to be converted into retinoic acid before starting to work. Some retinoids take several steps of conversion before binding. Retinal is only one step away, making it more potent.

Like other retinoids, retinal may be irritating. It is best to ease into using this ingredient daily. It is best to avoid mixing other active ingredients if you have sensitive skin.

Learn more about Retinal

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 22.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.

14
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract comes from the honeysuckle flower.

Honeysuckles have skin protecting, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory properties. It contains many antioxidants, such as luteolin, caffeic acid, loniflavone, and chlorogenic acids.

This honeysuckle is native to East Asia and used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat fever and inflammation.

Learn more about Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 28.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum contains this as ingredient number 24.

15
What it does: Perfuming, Skin Conditioning

This Honeysuckle flower extract comes from the Italian honeysuckle. It is an antioxidant, antimicrobial, and fragrance.

Both this and the Japanese Honeysuckle are rich in a natural paraben that give it antimicrobial property. They are effective in inhibiting bacteria, yeast, and mold.

Honeysuckle contains flavonoids and saponins. Both of these components are natural antioxidants that can help soothe the skin.

As most flowers do, honeysuckle has a natural fragrance.

Learn more about Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 29.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum contains this as ingredient number 34.

16
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 32.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum contains this as ingredient number 55.

17
What it does: Emulsifying
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Sorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer and cleaning agent. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.

As an emulsifier, Sorbitan Isostearate prevents oils and water from separating.

Due to its isostearic acid base, it may not be safe for Malassezia or fungal acne.

Learn more about Sorbitan Isostearate

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 35.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All Renewing Serum contains this as ingredient number 46.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

27% are loved or liked
15% have mixed ratings
41% are disliked or very disliked
17% have no rating yet
39% are loved or liked
16% have mixed ratings
28% are disliked or very disliked
18% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

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