Olay Retinol 24 Night Cream Versus Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Refining Moisture Cream Complex
This anti-aging night moisturizer is formulated around Retinol and Retinyl Propionate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Retinyl Palmitate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingRetinol
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Propionate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantDimethiconol
EmollientLaureth-4
EmulsifyingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Polyacrylamide
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Polyacrylate
StabilisingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantC13-14 Alkane
SolventSodium Sulfite
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Distarch Phosphate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Retinol, Retinyl Propionate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Carnosine, Hydroxyacetophenone, BHT, Dimethiconol, Laureth-4, Laureth-7, Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylamide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Polyacrylate, Titanium Dioxide, C13-14 Alkane, Sodium Sulfite, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientCera Alba
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningLaureth-7
EmulsifyingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Isopropyl Myristate, Cera Alba, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Laureth-7, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Polyacrylamide, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, Methylisothiazolinone, Methylparaben
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinLaureth-7 is created by the ethoxylation of lauryl alcohol using ethylene oxide. Lauryl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with hydrating properties.
This ingredient is an emulsifier and cleansing ingredient. As an emulsifier, it is used to prevent ingredients from separating. It also helps cleanse the skin by gathering dirt, oil, and pollutants to be rinsed away.
Polyacrylamide is a synthetic polymer. It is used to stabilize products and bind ingredients. When hydrated, Polyacrylamide forms a soft gel.
Polyacrylamide is low-toxicity. If source properly, it is deemed safe to use in cosmetics.
It should be noted the precursor to Polyacrylamide is acrylamide. Acrylamide is a carcinogen. Most reputable sources of Polyacrylamide will screen for residual acrylamide to make sure the count is in a safe range. Acrylamide is not able to be absorbed through the skin.
We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about PolyacrylamideWater. 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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water