The Purest Solutions Peptide Complex Serum Versus The Purest Solutions Vita-A Rejuvenating Retinol Serum (1% Retinol + Ceramide)
Updated on January 14, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 13 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid and peptides
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens or sulfates
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 Purest Solutions Peptide Complex Serum 28 ingredients
The Purest Solutions Vita-A Rejuvenating Retinol Serum (1% Retinol + Ceramide) 30 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
The Purest Solutions Peptide Complex Serum 28 ingredients
The Purest Solutions Vita-A Rejuvenating Retinol Serum (1% Retinol + Ceramide) 30 ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingAcmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingCeteareth-12
EmulsifyingCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningErythritol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarrageenan
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Phenethyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glyceryl Stearate, Trideceth-6, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Ceteareth-12, Cetyl Palmitate, Sodium PCA, Pentylene Glycol, Erythritol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Carrageenan, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Acmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Ceramide 3
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Phenethyl Alcohol
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Lecithin, Glycine Soja Sterols, Retinol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Dimethicone, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium PCA, Ceramide 3, Niacinamide, Phenethyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Citrate
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 WaterPhenethyl Alcohol is a colorless and aromatic alohol. It is naturally occuring in essential oils.
The scent of this ingredient is floral and often compared to rose.
Like other alcohols, this ingredient helps prevent the growth of bacteria. However, its main purpose is to impact a fragrance.
Learn more about Phenethyl Alcohol1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateWe don't have a description for Acmella Oleracea Extract yet.
Sodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCASodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here: Sodium Hyaluronate Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid Hyaluronic Acid
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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 HyaluronateXanthan 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 GumSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a type of hyaluronic acid. In fact, it is modified version of hyaluronic acid.
The structure of Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer allows it to stay in the skin's top layer for a longer period of time. This allows for even more hydration and humectant action than hyaluronic acid.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerAcetyl Hexapeptide-8 is a peptide. A common name for this peptide is Argireline.
Argireline has a similar function to botox; it prevents muscle movement and contractions slightly. By preventing muscles from moving, argireline also prohibits the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. However, research is lacking in proving this ingredient to be as effective as botox.
On the other hand, argireline tells our body to create more collagen. Collagen is a protein that makes connective tissue. Boosting collagen production leads to a healthier skin barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier means having firm and hydrated skin.
Read more about other common types of peptides here:
Learn more about Acetyl Hexapeptide-8This ingredient is created by putting sodium hyaluronate through hydrolysis.
You might know this as 'mini' or 'ultra low-molecular weight' hyaluronic acid. The small molecule size means it is able to travel deeper in the skin.
According to studies, low molecular-weight hyaluronic acid can:
One study from 2011 found ultra-low weight HA to show pro-inflammatory properties. Another study from 2022 found it to downregulate UV-B induced inflammation.
Hydrolysis is a process of changing a molecule using water or enzymes.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Sodium HyaluronateIngredient Ratings
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