The Pastels Shop Cera-A Retinol Moisturiser Versus Skintific Symwhite 377 Dark Spot Moisture Gel
Updated on October 11, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain ceramides and 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 harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils
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 Pastels Shop Cera-A Retinol Moisturiser 24 ingredients
Skintific Symwhite 377 Dark Spot Moisture Gel 56 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
The Pastels Shop Cera-A Retinol Moisturiser 24 ingredients
Skintific Symwhite 377 Dark Spot Moisture Gel 56 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPoloxamer 235
EmulsifyingRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Triethylhexanoin, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Panthenol, Saccharide Isomerate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Poloxamer 235, Retinol, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Erythritol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingGlutathione
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingCeramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Inositol
HumectantCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Aesculus Chinensis Extract
AstringentCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventNonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentDimethicone
Emollient
Bis-PEG/PPG-20/5 PEG/PPG-20/5 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Methoxy PEG/PPG-25/4 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Caprylyl Methicone, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Erythritol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tranexamic Acid, Panthenol, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Glutathione, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Ceramide NP, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Tromethamine, Ceramide Ns, Sodium Hyaluronate, Inositol, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Aesculus Chinensis Extract, Ceramide EOP, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Nonapeptide-1, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Cyclodextrin, Dimethicone, Bis-PEG/PPG-20/5 PEG/PPG-20/5 Dimethicone, Methoxy PEG/PPG-25/4 Dimethicone, Adenosine, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterSodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateGlycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil is the oil extracted from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant. This oil is non-fragrant and is an emollient. As an emollient, meadowfoam seed oil helps soften and hydrate the skin.
Due to its structure, meadowfoam seed oil is stable and has a long shelf life. It has the highest concentration of stable fatty-acids among plant oils. This makeup helps prevent it from degrading once exposed to oxygen.
Due to the fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Meadowfoam is native to California and Oregon.
Learn more about Limnanthes Alba Seed OilCeramide NP is a type of ceramide.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.
Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A stronger barrier helps the skin look more firm and hydrated. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.
If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.
Read more about other common types of ceramides here: Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP
Learn more about Ceramide NPPhytosphingosine is a phospholipid naturally found in our skin as a building block for ceramides.. It helps moisturize, soothe, and protect skin.
Phytosphingosine contributes to your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF). The NMF is responsible for hydration, a strong barrier, and plasticity. Our NMF decreases with age. Increasing NMF leads to more healthy and hydrated skin.
Studies show products formulated with NMF ingredients help strengthen our skin's barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier reduces irritation and increases hydration. Our skin barrier is responsible for having plump and firm skin. It also helps protect our skin against infection, allergies, and inflammation.
Fun fact: Phytosphingosine is abundant in plants and fungi.
More ingredients that help boost collagen in skin:
Learn more about PhytosphingosineHydrogenated Lecithin is created from the hydrogenation of lecithin (a group of phospholipids). Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction between hydrogen and another element.
This ingredient is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps soften skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumEthylhexylglycerin (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.
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