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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum versus Face Reality Skincare Vitamin A Corrective II Serum .

Published on December 15, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain peptides

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 harsh alcohols, common allergens, 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.

Serum American Brand United States
Serum American Brand United States

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

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant 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

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Vitamin E (2)
Niacinamide
Ceramides (3)
Peptides

Benefits

Hydrating (7)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (7)
Reduces Irritation (5)
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Anti-Aging (7)
Dark Spots (3)
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (4)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid
Peptides (2)

Benefits

Hydrating
Good For Oily Skin
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying
Irritating
Eczema
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Ingredients Compared

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

WaterButylene GlycolPropanediolEthylhexyl OlivateCetearyl AlcoholChlorogenic AcidsNiacinamideLauryl LactateDimethyl IsosorbidePyrroloquinoline Quinone Allyl EsterHydrolyzed Sodium HyaluronateGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractAscorbyl TetraisopalmitateErgothioneineBenzylidene DimethoxydimethylindanoneArabidopsis Thaliana ExtractCarnosineCamellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractVitis Vinifera Seed ExtractTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract Curcuma Longa Root ExtractOlea Europaea Fruit ExtractEuterpe Oleracea Fruit ExtractTrifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2Buddleja Officinalis Flower ExtractCoffea Arabica Leaf Cell ExtractCrocus Sativus Leaf Cell Culture ExtractSuperoxide DismutaseUbiquinonePlankton ExtractMicrococcus LysateArginineZingiber Officinale Root ExtractCeramide NPCeramide APCeramide EOPLinoleic AcidLinolenic AcidSea Whip ExtractBisabololTocopherolTocopheryl AcetateCholesterolPhytosphingosineJojoba EstersSodium PCAPentylene GlycolMethyl Gluceth-20GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed WaxAcacia Decurrens Flower WaxLecithinSodium Lauroyl LactylateDicetyl PhosphatePropanediol Dicaprylate/CapratePolyglycerin-3Ceteth-20 PhosphateDiisostearyl MalateXanthan GumSteareth-2Acacia Senegal GumPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamateCarbomerAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerDextranRicinoleth-40Sodium HydroxideCitric AcidSodium PhytateEthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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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.

1
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

SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Face Reality Skincare Vitamin A Corrective II Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Dimethyl Isosorbide is a solvent and helps deliver actives into your skin. It is created from sorbitol.

As a solvent, dimethyl isosorbide helps dissolve other ingredients. This helps ensure even distribution of an ingredient. It may also be used to decrease the thickness of a product.

Studies show dimethyl isosorbide is able to penetrate skin to deliver other ingredients into the skin, making them more effective.

Learn more about Dimethyl Isosorbide

SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.

Face Reality Skincare Vitamin A Corrective II Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

3
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.

The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.

This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.

Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.

Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.

Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.

Learn more about Pentylene Glycol

SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum contains this as ingredient number 47.

Face Reality Skincare Vitamin A Corrective II Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.

4
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

SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum contains this as ingredient number 49.

Face Reality Skincare Vitamin A Corrective II Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

5
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (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.

SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum contains this as ingredient number 70.

Face Reality Skincare Vitamin A Corrective II Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.

6
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.

SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum contains this as ingredient number 71.

Face Reality Skincare Vitamin A Corrective II Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.

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

46% are loved or liked
15% have mixed ratings
17% are disliked or very disliked
21% have no rating yet
24% are loved or liked
29% have mixed ratings
14% are disliked or very disliked
33% have no rating yet

Usage

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

When to use

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Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 4 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 36 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Face Reality Skincare Vitamin A Corrective II Serum.

See 36 alternatives
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