SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream Versus SkinBetter Science Sunbetter Tone Smart SPF 68 Sunscreen Compact
Overview
Cool Features
They both contain exfoliants and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, sensitive skin, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream 52 ingredients
SkinBetter Science Sunbetter Tone Smart SPF 68 Sunscreen Compact 43 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream 52 ingredients
SkinBetter Science Sunbetter Tone Smart SPF 68 Sunscreen Compact 43 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Glycolate
BufferingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Cetearyl Olivate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ceresin
Emulsion StabilisingGlycol Palmitate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate
Abrasive
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ProtectingSodium PCA
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Cholesterol
Emollient
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventDimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Glycolate, Glycolic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Pentylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isohexadecane, Sorbitan Olivate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycerin, Ceresin, Glycol Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Squalane, Methyl Gluceth-20, Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ceramide NP, Hyaluronic Acid, Ubiquinone, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Superoxide Dismutase, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Allantoin Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Linoleic Acid, Cholesterol, Linolenic Acid, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Steareth-2, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Hydrated Silica, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin ConditioningAlumina
Abrasive
Bis-Vinyl Dimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Masking
Brassica Campestris Sterols
Emollient
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientCerium Oxide
Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexyldecanol
EmollientHimanthalia Elongata Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Iron Oxides
Laureth-25
CleansingLaureth-3
EmulsifyingMica
Cosmetic Colorant
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientOzokerite
Emulsion StabilisingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyethylene
Abrasive
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Simethicone
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tribehenin
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Alumina, Bis-Vinyl Dimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Bisabolol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Cerium Oxide, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexyldecanol, Himanthalia Elongata Extract, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Iron Oxides, Laureth-25, Laureth-3, Mica, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Ozokerite, Phenethyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Plankton Extract, Polyethylene, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Silica, Simethicone, Sodium Chloride, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tribehenin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Water, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterTocopherol (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 TocopherolBisabolol is famous for its skin soothing properties. It does this by blocking inflammatory signals, helping to reduce your body's reaction to irritation.
This ingredient also interferes with the process of hyperpigmentation. This can help with reducing dark spots and uneven tone.
Bisabolol is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. By fighting these free-radicals, Bisabolol may slow down signs of aging.
Studies have shown Bisabolol to have antimicrobial properties and may be a fungicide. These properties help preserve a product's shelf life.
All these properties makes bisabolol a great skin barrier helper ingredient.
Bisabolol also helps the absorption of other ingredients.
Note: Synthetic Bisabolol has been shown to be less effective.
Learn more about BisabololTocopheryl 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 AcetateDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream 52 ingredients
SkinBetter Science Sunbetter Tone Smart SPF 68 Sunscreen Compact 43 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream 52 ingredients
This is a great - albeit extremely expensive - alternative for people whose skin is too sensitive for tretonoin/retinols or who aren’t able to manage the dryness they can cause.
I’ve been using it for about a month and a half and I truly have noticed a huge difference in my pore size + fine lines. I do like to use a moisturizer afterwards just to be safe, but this could likely work as a Show more
Truly my holy grail product. It’s certainly pricey but it’s one of two expensive products I have in my routine and it’s worth the investment imo. One fl oz bottle lasts me ~3 months with nightly use. I’ve used this product consistently for 5 months now and have noticed my skin is brighter, more hydrated, and even toned. I was previously using .05% tret and my skin could never really handle it. Show more
SkinBetter Science Sunbetter Tone Smart SPF 68 Sunscreen Compact 43 ingredients
Rosacea redness must have! I now use this instead of foundation during the day. It keeps my oiliness at bay, feels nice and light on the skin, doesn’t irritate my skin, has a nice fine coverage that is buildable and easily reapplied throughout the day. The colour does really seem to tone match and blend as your skin and high SPF. I highly recommend this product!
