The Formula rx Renaissance Gentle Retinol Complex Serum Versus FaceTheory Retinol Firming Moisturiser 0.2%
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Stearic Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Tocopherol, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ferulic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
