Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 versus Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum .
Last updated on March 12, 2024. Published on April 25, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free serums. They have a total of 11 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid, retinoid, Vitamin C 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 parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Price
Ingredient Info
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 41 ingredients
Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum 40 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 41 ingredients
Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum 40 ingredients
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 41 ingredients
Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum 40 ingredients
Water • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Glycerin • Isododecane • Cetearyl Olivate • Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Cyclodextrin • Cetearyl Alcohol • Sorbitan Olivate • Tocopheryl Acetate • Squalane • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Hydroxyacetophenone • 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid • Phenoxyethanol • Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose • Sodium Hyaluronate • Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate • Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil • Pentylene Glycol • Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil • Retinal • Alumina • Isostearic Acid • Lecithin • Sodium Polyaspartate • Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate • Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract • Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract • Polyhydroxystearic Acid • Disodium EDTA • Ethylhexylglycerin • Stearic Acid • Polysorbate 60 • Sorbitan Isostearate • BHT • Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract • Dipteryx Odorata Bean Extract • Coumarin • CI 14700 • Titanium Dioxide
Cis-Retinoic Acid 8% • Tocopherol • Allantoin • Squalane 3% • Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil • Pentapeptide-2 2% • Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil • Panthenol • Hyaluronic Acid • Water • Dibutyl Adipate • Dimethyl Isosorbide • Pentylene Glycol • Dicaprylyl Ether • Glycerin • Sucrose Polystearate • Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate • Disodium Cetearyl Sulfosuccinate • Tocopheryl Acetate • Phenoxyethanol • Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate • Cetyl Palmitate • Lecithin • Xanthan Gum • Ethylhexylglycerin • Disodium EDTA • Sclerotium Gum • Alcohol • Citric Acid • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract • Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer • Pantolactone • Ascorbyl Palmitate • Potassium Sorbate • Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate • Ascorbic Acid • Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterMedik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 1.
Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
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 TriglycerideMedik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 2.
Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 30.
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 GlycerinMedik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 3.
Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateMedik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 10.
Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.
Squalane is an emollient that helps the skin hold onto moisture. It's an oily liquid that occurs naturally in certain types of fish and plant oils.
Because squalane boosts hydration in the skin, it also comes with plenty of benefits: it is an antioxidant and can help fight free radicals and skin damage. Squalane is also found to have a detoxifying effect when applied.
Squalane comes from squalene, which occurs naturally within the sebum of our skin. It is one of the oils our skin produces to keep itself hydrated. Squalane is the hydrogenated version of squalene and has a longer shelf life.
Research shows that squalane is non-irritating (even at 100% concentration).
In general, it's a fantastic ingredient. It does a great job at hydrating the skin, and it's suitable for those with sensitive skin.
The source of squalane may impact malassezia / fungal acne. This is because olive oil derived squalane can contain impurities such as fatty acids and plant waxes. Sugarcane derived squalane is recommended for anyone with malassezia concerns.
Is squalane vegan? This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Learn more about SqualaneMedik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 11.
Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 15.
Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.
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 HyaluronateMedik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 17.
Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 32.
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 GlycolMedik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 20.
Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.
Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of fatty acids. These fatty acids usually are a mixture of phosphoric acid's choline ester connected to stearic, oleic, and palmitic acids. Most lecithins are created from plant ingredients scuh as sunflower.
Lecithin is an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin. The phospholipids in Lecithin can produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Learn more about LecithinMedik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 25.
Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.
Disodium 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 EDTAMedik8 Crystal Retinal 6 contains this as ingredient number 31.
Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.
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.
Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 25.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 41 ingredients
Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum 40 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 41 ingredients
Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum 40 ingredients
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