Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum versus Face Reality Skincare 8% L-Mandelic Serum .
Published on September 16, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide
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, parabens, silicones 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.
Ingredient Info
SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum 42 ingredients
Face Reality Skincare 8% L-Mandelic Serum 19 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
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:
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 😥
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
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 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
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 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum 42 ingredients
Face Reality Skincare 8% L-Mandelic Serum 19 ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum 42 ingredients
Face Reality Skincare 8% L-Mandelic Serum 19 ingredients
Water • Lactic Acid • Sodium Lactate • Pentylene Glycol • Ethylhexyl Olivate • Sorbitan Stearate • Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate • Ppg-3 Isostearyl Methyl Ether • Glycerin • Dimethyl Isosorbide • Glyceryl Stearate • Peg-100 Stearate • Magnesium Aluminum Silicate • Niacinamide • Zinc PCA • Steareth-2 • Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate • Salicylic Acid • Oligopeptide-10 • Sodium Hyaluronate • Decylene Glycol • Artemisia Vulgaris Extract • Bisabolol • Tocopheryl Acetate • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Laminaria Digitata Extract • Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract • Boswellia Serrata Extract • Zingiber Officinale Root Extract • Honey Extract • Oryza Sativa Bran Extract • Cetearyl Alcohol • Butylene Glycol • Xanthan Gum • Lecithin • Sclerotium Gum • Disodium EDTA • Pullulan • Ethylhexylglycerin • Silica • Phenoxyethanol • Sodium Benzoate
Water • Hamamelis Virginiana Water • Mandelic Acid • Alcohol • Lactic Acid • Butylene Glycol • Ppg-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate • Alcohol Denat. • Niacinamide • Sodium Lactate • Xanthan Gum • Sodium PCA • Sodium Hyaluronate • Urea • Phenethyl Alcohol • Caprylyl Glycol • Potassium Sorbate • Citric Acid • Sodium Hydroxide
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 WaterSkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Face Reality Skincare 8% L-Mandelic Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Lactic Acid is an AHA that is derived from fermenting lactose, a carbohydrate from milk. It removes the top layer of old and dead skin cells and helps increase cell turnover.
Benefits of Lactic Acid are that it can help to reduce large pores and reduce the effects of aging. Some potential downsides are that it can be bad for dry skin, cause irritation, worsen eczema, and worsen rosacea.
Not only does it help exfoliate the skin, it helps strengthen the skin's barrier. When applied, lactic acid helps the skin create ceramides.
Lactic acid is an over-the-counter chemical exfoliant that comes from the fermentation of lactose — a carbohydrate found in milk.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidSkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Face Reality Skincare 8% L-Mandelic Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.
Sodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and used to adjust the pH of a product.
Sodium Lactate is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin.
It also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.
Our NMF is formed from amino acids, lactic acid, sugars, minerals, peptides, and electrolytes. As we age, our NMF naturally depletes. Other sources of NMF depletion include harsh and drying ingredients such as denatured alcohol. Sodium lactate can help replenish our NMF, leading to more hydrated and plump skin.
High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.
Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.
Learn more about Sodium LactateSkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Face Reality Skincare 8% L-Mandelic Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
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 NiacinamideSkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.
Face Reality Skincare 8% L-Mandelic Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.
Face Reality Skincare 8% L-Mandelic Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum contains this as ingredient number 33.
Face Reality Skincare 8% L-Mandelic Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
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 GumSkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum contains this as ingredient number 34.
Face Reality Skincare 8% L-Mandelic Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum 42 ingredients
Face Reality Skincare 8% L-Mandelic Serum 19 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum 42 ingredients
Face Reality Skincare 8% L-Mandelic Serum 19 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 3 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum.
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