Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 Versus Shani Darden Retinol Reform

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 versus Shani Darden Retinol Reform .

Last updated on August 15, 2023. Published on August 23, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan and reef safe serums. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain retinoid and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

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

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Skin Rocks Retinoid 2

Shani Darden Retinol Reform

Serum British Brand United Kingdom

Serum Brand

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

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Buy Retinoid 2

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Buy Retinol Reform

Starts at $89.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 45 ingredients

Shani Darden Retinol Reform 43 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

Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 45 ingredients

Shani Darden Retinol Reform 43 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid (2)

Vitamin C

Vitamin E (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (5)

Good For Oily Skin (2)

Redness Reducing

Reduces Irritation

Skin Texture (3)

Reduces Large Pores (2)

Anti-Aging (5)

Dark Spots (4)

Scar Healing (4)

Acne Fighting (2)

Brightening (5)

Concerns

Drying (3)

May Worsen Oily Skin (4)

Irritating (4)

Rosacea (2)

Eczema

Notable Ingredients

AHA

Retinoid

Vitamin E (2)

Niacinamide

Benefits

Hydrating (3)

Good For Oily Skin (2)

Redness Reducing (3)

Reduces Irritation (2)

Skin Texture (2)

Reduces Large Pores (4)

Anti-Aging (4)

Dark Spots (3)

Scar Healing (3)

Acne Fighting (3)

Brightening (6)

Concerns

Drying

May Worsen Oily Skin

Acne Trigger

Irritating (3)

Rosacea

Eczema (2)

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Ingredients Compared

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

Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 45 ingredients

Shani Darden Retinol Reform 43 ingredients

Water • Dimethyl Isosorbide • Isononyl Isononanoate • Diisopropyl Dimer Dilinoleate • Glycerin • Squalane • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Dimethicone • Ethylhexyl Isononanoate • Potassium Cetyl Phosphate • Bakuchiol • Cetyl Alcohol • Glycine Soja Extract • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Benzyl Alcohol • Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate • Retinal • Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil • Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil • Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter • Polymethylsilsesquioxane • Glyceryl Stearate • Polysilicone-11 • Bidens Pilosa Extract • Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Withania Somnifera Root Extract • Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil • Hordeum Vulgare Extract • Tocopheryl Acetate • Tocopherol • Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract • Zingiber Officinale Root Extract • Ascorbic Acid • Polyisobutene • Bisabolol • Caprylhydroxamic Acid • Xanthan Gum • Phytosterols • Citric Acid • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Peg-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether • Sorbitan Isostearate • Phospholipids • Phenethyl Alcohol

Water • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Glycerin • Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract • Lactic Acid • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Lactobacillus Ferment • Isohexadecane • Retinol • Copernicia Cerifera Wax • Glucosamine Hcl • Plankton Extract • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Tocopheryl Acetate • Niacinamide • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Linoleic Acid • Glycine Soja Sterols • Phospholipids • Propanediol • Sodium Cocoamphoacetate • Sorbitan Isostearate • Polysorbate 60 • Oryza Sativa Bran Extract • Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract • Helianthus Annuus Extract • Tocopherol • Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum • Maltodextrin • Xanthan Gum • Lecithin • Hydrolyzed Algin • Xylitylglucoside • Anhydroxylitol • Xylitol • Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate • BHA • Sodium Hydroxide • Phenoxyethanol • Caprylyl Glycol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Hexylene Glycol

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

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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.

Water

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

Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 contains this as ingredient number 1.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 1.

Glycerin

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

Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 contains this as ingredient number 5.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 3.

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

What it does: Masking, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Mixed

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.

Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.

Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.

While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.

Learn more about Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 contains this as ingredient number 7.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 2.

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

What it does: Emulsion Stabilising

Community Rating: Disliked

This is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.

It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.

Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 contains this as ingredient number 14.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 6.

Tocopheryl Acetate

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

Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 contains this as ingredient number 30.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 15.

Tocopherol

What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol

Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 contains this as ingredient number 31.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 28.

Xanthan Gum

What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 contains this as ingredient number 38.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 32.

Sorbitan Isostearate

What it does: Emulsifying

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Sorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer and cleaning agent. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.

As an emulsifier, Sorbitan Isostearate prevents oils and water from separating.

Due to its isostearic acid base, it may not be safe for Malassezia or fungal acne.

Learn more about Sorbitan Isostearate

Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 contains this as ingredient number 43.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 23.

Phospholipids

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Phospholipids are naturally found in our skin as they are the main component of cell membranes. Phospholipids have humectant, emollient, antioxidant properties.

The phospholipids in our skin can be naturally depleted. Replenishing the phospholipids in our skin can help hydrate your skin. Due to their hygroscopic nature, they act as humectants and emollients. Humectants draw moisture from the air to your skin, while emollients help trap moisture in. This ingredient is non-occlusive.

Studies show phospholipids display antioxidant activity and may help with reducing the signs of aging.

Phospholipids are complex lipids that contain glycerin, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group. Some foods that contain phospholipids include soybeans and milk. The phospholipids found in soy come from Lecithin. This ingredient can also be synthetically created.

Some types of phospholipids:

Learn more about Phospholipids

Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 contains this as ingredient number 44.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform contains this as ingredient number 20.

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

Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 45 ingredients

Shani Darden Retinol Reform 43 ingredients

38% are loved or liked

9% have mixed ratings

36% are disliked or very disliked

18% have no rating yet

51% are loved or liked

23% have mixed ratings

21% are disliked or very disliked

5% have no rating yet

Usage

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

When to use

Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 45 ingredients

Shani Darden Retinol Reform 43 ingredients

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 45 ingredients

Retinoid 2 hasn't been rated yet.

Rate it now

Shani Darden Retinol Reform 43 ingredients

4.0 /5

from 1 rating

Absorbs Well (1) Expensive (1) Light (1) Strong Scent (1) Works Well (1)

screamadelica

23 days ago · Normal Skin

Review

the ingredients are fantastic. if you’re willing to splurge on a quality retinol serum, this one would be a great choice.
however, the smell is...

the ingredients are fantastic. if you’re willing to splurge on a quality retinol serum, this one would be a great choice.
however, the smell is horrible. if you can get past the smell, though, this would probably be a great option for sensitive skin as it doesn’t have any added fragrance.