Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of NeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex versus SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0 .
Last updated on August 15, 2023. Published on November 10, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain niacinamide and retinoid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens or sulfates
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
NeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex 32 ingredients
SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0 34 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
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 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
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 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
NeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex 32 ingredients
SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0 34 ingredients
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This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
NeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex 32 ingredients
SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0 34 ingredients
Water • Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate • Glycerin • Caprylyl Methicone • Ppg-15 Stearyl Ether • Niacinamide • Stearyl Alcohol • Cetearyl Alcohol • Acetyl Glucosamine • Butylene Glycol • Ceteareth-20 • Isohexadecane • Cellulose • Retinol • Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract • Citric Acid • Ascorbic Acid • Sodium Hyaluronate • Bisabolol • C13-14 Isoparaffin • Glyceryl Dilaurate • Laureth-7 • Polysorbate 20 • Caprylyl Glycol • Steareth-10 • Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer • Polyacrylamide • Disodium EDTA • Sodium Hydroxide • Xanthan Gum • Phenoxyethanol • Chlorphenesin
Water • Cetyl Ethylhexanoate • Glycine Soja Oil • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Niacinamide • Polyacrylate-13 • Squalane • Retinol • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8 • Dunaliella Salina Extract • Magnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract • Tocopherol • Tocotrienols • Ceramide 3 • Bisabolol • Phytosterols • Squalene • Tocopheryl Acetate • Oryza Sativa Bran Cera • Glycerin • Polysorbate 20 • Butylene Glycol • Cetyl Palmitate • Laureth-23 • Trideceth-6 Phosphate • Sodium Hydroxide • Dicaprylyl Ether • Lauryl Alcohol • Polyisobutene • Dextran • Potassium Sorbate • Disodium EDTA • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin
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 WaterNeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex contains this as ingredient number 1.
SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0 contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 GlycerinNeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex contains this as ingredient number 3.
SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0 contains this as ingredient number 20.
Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamideNeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex contains this as ingredient number 6.
SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0 contains this as ingredient number 5.
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.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
NeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex contains this as ingredient number 10.
SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0 contains this as ingredient number 22.
Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolNeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex contains this as ingredient number 14.
SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0 contains this as ingredient number 8.
Bisabolol is pimarily used to add fragrance to a product. However, it is also famous for helping soothe skin.
Bisabolol comes from German chamomile essential oil. Synthetic Bisabolol has been shown to be less effective.
Bisabolol helps soothe skin. It does this by blocking the inflammatory signals, helping to reduce your body's reaction to irritation.
Bisabolol also interferes with the process of hyperpigmentation. This can help with reducing dark spots and uneven tone.
Bisabolol is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. By fighting these free-radicals, Bisabolol may slow down signs of aging.
Studies have shown Bisabolol to have antimicrobial properties and may be a fungicide. These properties help preserve a product's shelf life.
Bisabolol also helps the absorption of other ingredients.
Learn more about BisabololNeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex contains this as ingredient number 19.
SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0 contains this as ingredient number 15.
Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.
Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.
The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.
Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20NeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex contains this as ingredient number 23.
SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0 contains this as ingredient number 21.
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 EDTANeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex contains this as ingredient number 28.
SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0 contains this as ingredient number 32.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideNeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex contains this as ingredient number 29.
SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0 contains this as ingredient number 26.
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.
NeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex contains this as ingredient number 31.
SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0 contains this as ingredient number 33.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
NeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex 32 ingredients
SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0 34 ingredients
Usage
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When to use
NeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex 32 ingredients
SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 1.0 34 ingredients
Reviews
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NeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex 32 ingredients
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