The Glow Fairy Retinol Glow Wand Versus The INKEY List Retinol Serum
Updated on June 19, 2024
Overview
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid, retinoid and Vitamin E
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 common allergens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils and 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
The Glow Fairy Retinol Glow Wand 53 ingredients
The INKEY List Retinol Serum 31 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
The Glow Fairy Retinol Glow Wand 53 ingredients
The INKEY List Retinol Serum 31 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-26
HumectantAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Natto Gum
Polyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantGinkgo Biloba Nut Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCaprylic Acid
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLecithin
EmollientPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentParfum
Masking
Benzophenone-9
UV AbsorberCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantBeeswax, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Allantoin, Retinol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sorbitan Stearate, Water, Glyceryl Stearate, Natto Gum, Polyquaternium-51, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Alcohol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Caprylic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lecithin, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Parfum, Benzophenone-9, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Carbomer, Polysorbate 80, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ubiquinone, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
SolventDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Retinyl Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phospholipids, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycolipids, Glycine Soja Sterols, Retinyl Acetate, Dimethicone, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hyaluronic Acid, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Lactate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
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 GlycerinDimethicone 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 DimethiconePolysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Water. 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 WaterCarbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Tocopheryl 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 AcetateIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
The Glow Fairy Retinol Glow Wand 53 ingredients
The INKEY List Retinol Serum 31 ingredients
