Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Olay Retinol24 Max Night Serum versus CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum .
Last updated on March 21, 2024. Published on March 26, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both serums. They have a total of 6 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, 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.
Ingredient Info
Olay Retinol24 Max Night Serum 20 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:
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 😥
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
Olay Retinol24 Max Night Serum 20 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:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Benefits
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 6 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Olay Retinol24 Max Night Serum 20 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 ingredients
Water • Dimethicone • Glycerin • Retinol • Retinyl Propionate • Niacinamide • Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract • Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 • Dimethiconol • Laureth-4 • Polysorbate 20 • Laureth-7 • Disodium EDTA • Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Polyacrylamide • Titanium Dioxide • Mica • C13-14 Isoparaffin • DMDM Hydantoin • Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
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 WaterOlay Retinol24 Max Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 Retinol24 Max Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.
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 GlycerinOlay Retinol24 Max Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
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 RetinolOlay Retinol24 Max Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 25.
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 NiacinamideOlay Retinol24 Max Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.
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 20Olay Retinol24 Max Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Olay Retinol24 Max Night Serum 20 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
Olay Retinol24 Max Night Serum 20 ingredients
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 37 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 14 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Olay Retinol24 Max Night Serum.
See 14 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 25 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum.
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