Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate versus CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum .
Last updated on September 14, 2023. Published on August 10, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 11 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain 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 common allergens, fragrances, oils or parabens
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
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
No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate 27 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 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 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Contains Sulfate
Ingredients in this product that are types of sulfate:
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 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate 27 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate 27 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Butylene Glycol • Dimethicone • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Phenoxyethanol • Polysorbate 20 • Xanthan Gum • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Dimethiconol • Retinol • Bisabolol • Inulin Lauryl Carbamate • Caprylyl Glycol • Sorbitan Laurate • Potassium Hydroxide • Ethylhexylglycerin • Carbomer • Tetrasodium EDTA • Behentrimonium Chloride • Sucrose Laurate • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester • Benzoic Acid • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 • Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Water • Glycerin • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Potassium Cetyl Phosphate • Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides • Polysorbate 20 • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Peg-40 Stearate • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Cyclopentasiloxane • Dimethicone • Triethanolamine • Cetearyl Alcohol • Pentylene Glycol • Lecithin • Xanthan Gum • Hydroxyacetophenone • Phenoxyethanol • Citric Acid • Behentrimonium Methosulfate • Cichorium Intybus Root Extract • Tocopherol • Niacinamide • Alcohol • Retinol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Silica • Potassium Phosphate • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Hyaluronic Acid • Sodium Hydroxide • Ceramide 3 • Ceramide AP • Phytosphingosine • Cholesterol • Carbomer • Ceramide 1
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 WaterNo7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 1.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 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 GlycerinNo7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 2.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.
Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.
No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 4.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.
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 TriglycerideNo7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 5.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
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.
No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 7.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.
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 20No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 8.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumNo7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 9.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.
Retinol is a form of Vitamin A and proven to help with anti-aging.
It promotes collagen production, increases new cell turnoever, and protects your skin as an antioxidant.
Retinol boosts collagen production and increases cell turnover. This makes retinol effective in removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Retinol is less effective when exposed to sun. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent.
Using retinol and retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few weeks of use. 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 RetinolNo7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 12.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 25.
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.
No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 18.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.
Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.
Carbomer is commonly found in many types of cosmetics products. It is found to be safe in concentrations up to 15%. However, a high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Most products contain 1% of less of carbomer.
No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 19.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 36.
Hydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
Hydroxyethylcellulose helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseNo7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 23.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate 27 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate 27 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate 27 ingredients
gemmajaws
Effective non-prescription retinol
The texture is sort of like a hybrid serum/lotion that sinks into my skin and leaves it feeling soft and smooth....
Effective non-prescription retinol
The texture is sort of like a hybrid serum/lotion that sinks into my skin and leaves it feeling soft and smooth. Do not let this product fool you, it is about as strong as you can get OTC and should be used with caution. I have been using retinol products for years (non-prescription strength) and this is by and far my favourite, the one I continue to use regularly.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 ingredients
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