The Raw Retinol 0.3% Serum Versus Minimalist Retinal 0.2% Liposomal Cream
Updated on February 03, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain retinoid and Vitamin E
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, dark spots and better texture
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 Raw Retinol 0.3% Serum 51 ingredients
Minimalist Retinal 0.2% Liposomal Cream 32 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 Raw Retinol 0.3% Serum 51 ingredients
Minimalist Retinal 0.2% Liposomal Cream 32 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualene
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventPolypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTrideceth-10
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Retinol 0.3%
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Lysine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Arginine 0.2%
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Threonine
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Proline
Skin ConditioningGlycine
Buffering
Alanine
MaskingValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Cocoate
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
Antioxidant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Squalene, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Polypeptide-1, Panthenol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Trideceth-10, Phenoxyethanol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Retinol 0.3%, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Lysine, Histidine, Arginine 0.2%, Aspartic Acid, Threonine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Proline, Glycine, Alanine, Valine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Allantoin, Phytosphingosine, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Dimethiconol, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cholesterol, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-400
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Arachidyl Alcohol
EmollientResveratrol
Antioxidant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingEthylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride
Antioxidant
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Water, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-400, Lecithin, Propylene Glycol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Resveratrol, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Behenyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Arachidyl Glucoside, Polyacrylamide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Retinal, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Laureth-7, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Silica, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin (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.
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 GlycerinThis 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 HyaluronatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan 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 GumIngredient Ratings
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