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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer versus Garnier Bright Complete Vitamin C Serum Cream UV .

Published on June 17, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both general moisturizers. They have a total of 13 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain niacinamide, SPF and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens and silicones

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

General Moisturizer American Brand United States
General Moisturizer French Brand France

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

Price

Shop

Buy Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer

Starts at $27.48
Shop

Buy Bright Complete Vitamin C Serum Cream UV

Starts at $22.97

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

Mineral UV Filter
Vitamin E
Exfoliators
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
Peptides

Benefits

Hydrating
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation
Reduces Large Pores
Dark Spots
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin (6)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (4)

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (2)
Mineral UV Filter
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Niacinamide

Benefits

Hydrating
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (2)
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots (2)
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting
Brightening (4)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (4)
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Ingredients Compared

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

Water • Palmitic Acid • Stearic Acid • Niacinamide • Glycerin • CI 77891 • Titanium Dioxide • Potassium Hydroxide • Linalool • Geraniol • Dimethicone • Behenyl Alcohol • Parfum • Methylparaben • Myristic Acid • Aluminum Hydroxide • Phenoxyethanol • Octocrylene • Tocopheryl Acetate • Ascorbyl Glucoside • Limonene • Isopropyl Myristate • Tetrasodium EDTA • Citronellol • Hydroxycitronellal • Citrus Junos Fruit Extract • Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane • Ethylparaben • Hexyl Cinnamal • Butylene Glycol • Benzyl Salicylate • Benzyl Alcohol

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

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 1.

Garnier Bright Complete Vitamin C Serum Cream UV contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
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

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 2.

Garnier Bright Complete Vitamin C Serum Cream UV contains this as ingredient number 5.

3
What it does: Smoothing
Community Rating: Loved

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 Niacinamide

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 4.

Garnier Bright Complete Vitamin C Serum Cream UV contains this as ingredient number 4.

4
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting
Community Rating: Very Disliked

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.

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 8.

Garnier Bright Complete Vitamin C Serum Cream UV contains this as ingredient number 11.

5
What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

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 Acetate

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 10.

Garnier Bright Complete Vitamin C Serum Cream UV contains this as ingredient number 19.

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

A type of fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as traditional alcohols.

Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.

Behenyl Alcohol is usually derived from the fats in vegetable oils.

In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.

Learn more about Behenyl Alcohol

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 19.

Garnier Bright Complete Vitamin C Serum Cream UV contains this as ingredient number 12.

7
What it does: Cosmetic Colorant, UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Mixed

Titanium dioxide is known for its UVA and UVB protection properties. It is non-comedogenic and non-irritating. Titanium Dioxide is a physical sunscreen. Physical sunscreens reflect light and prevent it from reaching your skin.

Protecting your skin against UV radiation can prevent the signs of aging. Sun damage is associated with fine-lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness, and hyperpigmentation. Titanium dioxide can help prevent premature aging.

With modern production, nano-scale or fine-grade titanium dioxide can be easily produced for cosmetics. In sunscreen, titanium dioxide absorbs UV light. Our skin is not able to absorb Titanium dioxide, even nanoparticles.

Titanium itself is the 9th most common element in the Earth's crust. Titanium dioxide is formed when oxygen is introduced and can be found in ores, dust, sand, and soil.

Pure titanium dioxide is a white powder that is used in many products to add or change color.

Learn more about Titanium Dioxide

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 21.

Garnier Bright Complete Vitamin C Serum Cream UV contains this as ingredient number 7.

8
What it does: Perfuming, Preservative, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.

Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.

Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.

Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.

Other types of astringent alcohols include:

According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.

Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.

Learn more about Benzyl Alcohol

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 22.

Garnier Bright Complete Vitamin C Serum Cream UV contains this as ingredient number 32.

9
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Methylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.

Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.

Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.

The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.

Learn more about Methylparaben

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 23.

Garnier Bright Complete Vitamin C Serum Cream UV contains this as ingredient number 14.

10
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Ethylparaben is a preservative, is a paraben, and is not reef safe.

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 24.

Garnier Bright Complete Vitamin C Serum Cream UV contains this as ingredient number 28.

11
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Parfum

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 27.

Garnier Bright Complete Vitamin C Serum Cream UV contains this as ingredient number 13.

12
What it does: Cleansing, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.

As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.

Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.

Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.

This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about Stearic Acid

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 35.

Garnier Bright Complete Vitamin C Serum Cream UV contains this as ingredient number 3.

13
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Palmitic Acid is a fatty acid found in our skin. In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It is a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.

As an emollient, it helps hydrate the skin. The emulsifying properties keep ingredients together in a product.

Palmitic Acid may not be fungal-acne safe. It can worsen oily skin and cause breakouts due to its emollient nature.

Learn more about Palmitic Acid

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 36.

Garnier Bright Complete Vitamin C Serum Cream UV contains this as ingredient number 2.

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

18% are loved or liked
10% have mixed ratings
65% are disliked or very disliked
8% have no rating yet
16% are loved or liked
6% have mixed ratings
78% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet

Usage

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

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