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Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 versus La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum .
Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on May 06, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain retinoid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols, fragrances and silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Price
Ingredient Info
SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 26 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum 22 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
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:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
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 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 26 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum 22 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 26 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum 22 ingredients
Water • Propanediol • Dimethicone • Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate • Alcohol Denat. • Dipropylene Glycol • Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer • Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Isohexadecane • Retinol • Phenoxyethanol • Caprylyl Glycol • Polysorbate 20 • Isopropyl Myristate • Sodium Citrate • Boswellia Serrata Gum • Polysorbate 80 • Dimethiconol • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Bisabolol • BHT • Sorbitan Oleate • Citric Acid • Propyl Gallate
Water • Glycerin • Cyclohexasiloxane • Alcohol Denat. • Pentylene Glycol • Niacinamide • Dimethicone • Glycine Soja Oil • Ppg-6-Decyltetradeceth-30 • Sodium Hyaluronate • Retinol • Adenosine • Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • Caprylyl Glycol • Citric Acid • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Xanthan Gum • Polysilicone-11 • Retinyl Palmitate • Tocopherol • Phenoxyethanol • Parfum
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 WaterSkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 contains this as ingredient number 1.
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.
Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.
SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 contains this as ingredient number 3.
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol and other additives. It has a low molecular weight and will evaporate quickly. This helps other ingredients become better absorbed and dry once applied.
Alcohol Denat. is volatile and may cause irritation. It helps draw out natural oils in skin and dry out your skin.
One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased irritation.
Alcohol is antibacterial by nature. This can help preserve products and increase their shelf life.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 contains this as ingredient number 5.
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate is a polymer made from ammonium salts. It helps add stability and texture to a product.
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate is stable over a wide pH range. Due to its ability to absorb water, it can help thicken the texture of a product.
As an emulsion stabilizer, this ingredient is able to stabilize and mix the other ingredients. This creates a consistent texture.
Learn more about Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl TaurateSkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 contains this as ingredient number 7.
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.
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 RetinolSkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 contains this as ingredient number 12.
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.
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.
SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 contains this as ingredient number 13.
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolSkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 contains this as ingredient number 14.
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This prevents unwanted reactions in products. Metal ions can come into a product via the water ingredient. They are found in trace amounts and are not known to be harmful.
SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 contains this as ingredient number 21.
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidSkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 contains this as ingredient number 25.
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 26 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum 22 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 26 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum 22 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 26 ingredients
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum 22 ingredients
Lapaki
Very good and gentle retinol serum
My retinol journey began with this gentle serum with a concentration of 0.3% retinol: 0.1% pure retinol combined...
Very good and gentle retinol serum
My retinol journey began with this gentle serum with a concentration of 0.3% retinol: 0.1% pure retinol combined with 0.2% retinol palmitate that ensures gradual release of the active ingredients. It din't irritate my skin or cause any major break-outs, just some slight purging in the beginning, but that is concidered a normal reaktion that fades as soon as the skin gets used to it. I recommend it for retinol beginners and people with sensitive skin. [Edited]
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 3 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5.
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