Pond's Age Miracle Ultimate Youth Night Serum Hexyl-Retinol Versus For Skin’s Sake (FSS) Retinol Serum With Ceramide III
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentHexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Retinyl Propionate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDilauryl Thiodipropionate
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Hexylresorcinol, Retinyl Propionate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dilauryl Thiodipropionate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Bisabolol, Decyl Glucoside, Potassium Hydroxide, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Tocopherol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Betaine, Lecithin, Retinol, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, CI 14700, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Pei-10
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
PEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Ceteareth-20
CleansingHydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantZea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Lauryl Laurate
Skin Conditioning
BHA
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Triethylhexanoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Pei-10, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, BHT, PEG-75 Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Zea Mays Starch, Lauryl Laurate, BHA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDisodium 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.
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 RetinolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
