Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate versus Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel .
Published on September 17, 2022
Overview
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and reducing pores
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens or sulfates
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.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Price
Ingredient Info
No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate 27 ingredients
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel 27 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 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
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:
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
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel 27 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients 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:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 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
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel 27 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 • Dimethicone • Cyclopentasiloxane • Glycereth-26 • Glycerin • Cyclohexasiloxane • Peg-80 Sorbitan Laurate • Dimethiconol • Polyacrylate-13 • Panthenol • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Polyisobutene • Caprylyl Glycol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Hexylene Glycol • Bisabolol • Polysorbate 20 • Ppg-26-Buteth-26 • Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane • Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate • Ethylhexyl Salicylate • Lactic Acid • Phenoxyethanol • Parfum
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.
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel 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.
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel contains this as ingredient number 5.
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.
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel contains this as ingredient number 2.
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.
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel contains this as ingredient number 26.
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.
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel contains this as ingredient number 19.
Dimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 11.
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel 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 BisabololNo7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 13.
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel contains this as ingredient number 18.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolNo7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 15.
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel contains this as ingredient number 15.
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.
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel contains this as ingredient number 16.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate 27 ingredients
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel 27 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
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel 27 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.
Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel 27 ingredients
Alternatives
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