Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Vichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles versus CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum .
Last updated on September 19, 2023. Published on May 27, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid and retinoid
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, fragrances or parabens
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Price
Ingredient Info
Vichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles 30 ingredients
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum 33 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Contains Sulfate
Ingredients in this product that are types of sulfate:
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Vichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles 30 ingredients
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum 33 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Vichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles 30 ingredients
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum 33 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Pentylene Glycol • Isononyl Isononanoate • Alcohol Denat. • Dicaprylyl Ether • Glycine Soja Oil • Propylene Glycol • Peg-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides • Hydrolyzed Rice Protein • Hydroxyacetophenone • Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 • Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sodium Hydroxide • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Vitreoscilla Ferment • Retinol • Dicaprylyl Carbonate • Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • Butylene Glycol • Caprylyl Glycol • Carbomer • Glyceryl Isostearate • Polysorbate 20 • Ppg-6-Decyltetradeceth-30 • Sodium Lactate • Tocopherol • Xanthan Gum
Water • Propanediol • Dimethicone • Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate • Niacinamide • Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Potassium Phosphate • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Carbomer • Cetearyl Alcohol • Behentrimonium Methosulfate • Dimethiconol • Lecithin • Sodium Citrate • Retinol • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Cholesterol • Phenoxyethanol • Alcohol • Isopropyl Myristate • Caprylyl Glycol • Citric Acid • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Pentylene Glycol • Phytosphingosine • Xanthan Gum • Polysorbate 20 • Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterVichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles contains this as ingredient number 1.
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolVichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles contains this as ingredient number 3.
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 29.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateVichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles contains this as ingredient number 15.
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This prevents unwanted reactions in products. Metal ions can come into a product via the water ingredient. They are found in trace amounts and are not known to be harmful.
Vichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles contains this as ingredient number 17.
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 28.
Retinol is a form of Vitamin A and proven to help with anti-aging.
It promotes collagen production, increases new cell turnoever, and protects your skin as an antioxidant.
Retinol boosts collagen production and increases cell turnover. This makes retinol effective in removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Retinol is less effective when exposed to sun. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent.
Using retinol and retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few weeks of use. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolVichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles contains this as ingredient number 19.
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate is a polymer made from ammonium salts. It helps add stability and texture to a product.
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate is stable over a wide pH range. Due to its ability to absorb water, it can help thicken the texture of a product.
As an emulsion stabilizer, this ingredient is able to stabilize and mix the other ingredients. This creates a consistent texture.
Learn more about Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl TaurateVichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles contains this as ingredient number 21.
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolVichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles contains this as ingredient number 23.
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.
Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.
Carbomer is commonly found in many types of cosmetics products. It is found to be safe in concentrations up to 15%. However, a high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Most products contain 1% of less of carbomer.
Vichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles contains this as ingredient number 24.
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.
Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.
Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.
The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.
Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Vichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles contains this as ingredient number 26.
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 32.
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 GumVichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles contains this as ingredient number 30.
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 31.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Vichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles 30 ingredients
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum 33 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Vichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles 30 ingredients
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum 33 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Vichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles 30 ingredients
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum 33 ingredients
SkincareSimba
The only retinol my partner's skin can tolerate.
Their skin is extremely reactive and sensitive but this retinol has worked great.
I also use...
The only retinol my partner's skin can tolerate.
Their skin is extremely reactive and sensitive but this retinol has worked great.
I also use it every other day because I alternate between this retinol and A313.
It works great and is gentle enough to allow me to build tolerance without purging effects (at least on my skin and my partner's)
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 43 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Vichy LiftActiv Pure Retinol Serum for Deep Wrinkles.
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