Versus

Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum Versus Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum

Serum

American Brand

Updated on June 03, 2025

Overview

What they are

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

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

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 and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and oils

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

New Comparison

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum 55 ingredients

Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum 21 ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum 55 ingredients

Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum 21 ingredients

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products

A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum

Water

Propanediol

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Triheptanoin

Dimethicone

Glycerin

0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Hexyldecanol

Emollient

Disiloxane

Skin Conditioning

Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone

Emulsifying

Diheptyl Succinate

Emollient

Propylene Carbonate

Solvent

Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate

PPG-24-Glycereth-24

Phenyl Trimethicone

Retinol

Ubiquinone

Honey Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Humectant

Algae Extract

Emollient

Zingiber Officinale Extract

Skin Conditioning

Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Bisabolol

Masking

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Skin Conditioning

Phospholipids

Skin Conditioning

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract

Skin Conditioning

Lecithin

Emollient

Sodium Acrylates Copolymer

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Emollient

1 / 2

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning

4-T-Butylcyclohexanol

Masking

Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate

Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Emollient

0 / 0 Oil Icon

Sorbitol

Humectant

0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide

Skin Conditioning

Polysilicone-11

Benzoic Acid

Masking

Dehydroacetic Acid

Preservative

Sodium Phytate

Glyceryl Polyacrylate

Polysorbate 80

Emulsifying

0 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin Icon

Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid

Skin Conditioning

Stearic Acid

Cleansing

2-3 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin Icon

Brassica Campestris Sterols

Emollient

Pvp

Emulsion Stabilising

0 / 0

Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer

Sodium Benzoate

Alcohol

Potassium Phosphate

Decyl Glucoside

Phenoxyethanol

Hexylene Glycol

Potassium Sorbate

Tocopherol

0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E Icon

Water, Propanediol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Triheptanoin, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Hexyldecanol, Disiloxane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Diheptyl Succinate, Propylene Carbonate, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, PPG-24-Glycereth-24, Phenyl Trimethicone, Retinol, Ubiquinone, Honey Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Algae Extract, Zingiber Officinale Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phospholipids, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Lecithin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, 1,2-Hexanediol, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sorbitol, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Polysilicone-11, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Polysorbate 80, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Stearic Acid, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Pvp, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Decyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol

Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum

Water

Skin Conditioning

Squalane

Emollient

1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Niacinamide

Smoothing

Sodium Acrylates Copolymer

Bakuchiol

Antimicrobial

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant

0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Rosa Canina Fruit Oil

Emollient

Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil

Biosaccharide Gum-1

Yeast Extract

Soy Amino Acids

Lecithin

Hexylene Glycol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Caprylyl Glycol

Phenoxyethanol

Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate

Citric Acid

Linalool

Geraniol

Limonene

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

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 Glycol

Hexylene Glycol

Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant. Glycols are a class of alcohols. Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant and emulsifier.

As a surfactant, Hexylene Glycol helps gather dirt and oil on your skin to be washed away.

As an emulsifier, Hexylene Glycol helps keep water and oil together. This prevents them from separating in a product. Hexylene Glycol also thins out the texture of a product by lessening viscosity.

Hexylene Glycol has a small molecular weight.

Learn more about Hexylene Glycol

Lecithin

Emollient, Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning

Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of phospholipids.

This ingredient has emollient and emulsifying properties.

As an emollient, lecithen helps soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.

As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can also help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.

This is because the phospholipids in lecithin produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.

Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that feeds fungal acne.

We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.

Learn more about Lecithin

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative

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.

Sodium Acrylates Copolymer

We don't have a description for Sodium Acrylates Copolymer yet.

Water

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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 Water