Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of ZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator versus SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream .
Published on November 28, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA, 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, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Exfoliator
Exfoliators are used to exfoliate the skin, or remove dead skin cells from the skin. Exfoliators may be chemical or physical.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Price
Ingredient Info
ZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator 22 ingredients
SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream 52 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
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 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
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
ZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator 22 ingredients
SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream 52 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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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
ZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator 22 ingredients
SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream 52 ingredients
Water • Glycolic Acid • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Lactic Acid • Glycerin • Propylene Glycol Stearate • Propylene Glycol • Ammonium Hydroxide • Cetyl Alcohol • Squalane • Steapyrium Chloride • Allantoin • Disodium EDTA • Dimethicone • Tocopheryl Acetate • Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Retinyl Palmitate • Ethylhexylglycerin • Phenoxyethanol
Water • Glycolic Acid • Sodium Glycolate • Cetearyl Olivate • Pentylene Glycol • Cyclopentasiloxane • Isohexadecane • Sorbitan Olivate • Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate • Glycerin • Ceresin • Glycol Palmitate • Butylene Glycol • Niacinamide • Squalane • Methyl Gluceth-20 • Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 • Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 • Ceramide NP • Hyaluronic Acid • Ubiquinone • Tocopherol • Bisabolol • Tocopheryl Acetate • Superoxide Dismutase • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Allantoin Glycyrrhetinic Acid • Sodium PCA • Panthenol • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Portulaca Oleracea Extract • Linoleic Acid • Cholesterol • Linolenic Acid • Magnesium Aluminum Silicate • Dimethyl Isosorbide • Dimethicone • Glyceryl Stearate • Peg-100 Stearate • Steareth-2 • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Acacia Senegal Gum • Xanthan Gum • Hydrated Silica • Carbomer • Polysorbate 20 • Tromethamine • Disodium EDTA • Ethylhexylglycerin • Phenoxyethanol • CI 77891
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 WaterZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator contains this as ingredient number 1.
SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream contains this as ingredient number 1.
Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous AHA with research to back up its benefits. Its main role is to peel the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Glycolic Acid has shown to boost collage production, a protein that helps skin stay firm. Overall, Glycolic Acid helps with improving uneven tone, rough patches of skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage. It also increases skin hydration by playing a role in creating molecules that create hyaluronic acid naturally.
When applying Glycolic Acid, it is normal to feel slight stinging. The pH value and concentration of glycolic acid play a role in the effectiveness of the product.
Recent studies have shown Glycolic Acid may protect the skin against UV damage. However, you should always wear SPF, especially when using exfoliants.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator contains this as ingredient number 2.
SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream contains this as ingredient number 2.
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 GlycerinZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator contains this as ingredient number 5.
SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream contains this as ingredient number 10.
Squalane is an emollient that helps the skin hold onto moisture. It's an oily liquid that occurs naturally in certain types of fish and plant oils.
Because squalane boosts hydration in the skin, it also comes with plenty of benefits: it is an antioxidant and can help fight free radicals and skin damage. Squalane is also found to have a detoxifying effect when applied.
Squalane comes from squalene, which occurs naturally within the sebum of our skin. It is one of the oils our skin produces to keep itself hydrated. Squalane is the hydrogenated version of squalene and has a longer shelf life.
Research shows that squalane is non-irritating (even at 100% concentration).
In general, it's a fantastic ingredient. It does a great job at hydrating the skin, and it's suitable for those with sensitive skin.
The source of squalane may impact malassezia / fungal acne. This is because olive oil derived squalane can contain impurities such as fatty acids and plant waxes. Sugarcane derived squalane is recommended for anyone with malassezia concerns.
Is squalane vegan? This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Learn more about SqualaneZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator contains this as ingredient number 10.
SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream contains this as ingredient number 15.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator contains this as ingredient number 13.
SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream contains this as ingredient number 49.
Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.
Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.
ZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator contains this as ingredient number 14.
SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream contains this as ingredient number 38.
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 AcetateZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator contains this as ingredient number 15.
SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream contains this as ingredient number 25.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract is derived from the leaves of the tea plant. Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from this plant.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract has many benefits. It contains polyphenols, a strong antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight off free-radical molecules that damage skin cells. The antioxidants in green tea neutralize free-radicals from the sun. This gives the skin some extra UV protection, but should not replace sunscreen.
Many components of tea have anti-inflammatory properties. Polyphenols and L-theanine help soothe the skin and reduce irritation. L-theanine is an amino acid that makes up most of the amino acids found in tea leaves. The caffeine in Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract helps calm inflamed blood vessels.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract also contains Vitamin Bs, linoleic acid, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract also has antimicrobial properties.
Research has shown both drinking Camellia Sinensis Leaf Tea and applying it to the skin can help boost skin elasticity and hydration. Studies also show using tea extract may reduce sebum, or oil, production.
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator contains this as ingredient number 19.
SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream contains this as ingredient number 31.
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.
ZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator contains this as ingredient number 21.
SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream contains this as ingredient number 50.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.
ZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator contains this as ingredient number 22.
SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream contains this as ingredient number 51.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
ZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator 22 ingredients
SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream 52 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
ZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator 22 ingredients
SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream 52 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
ZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator 22 ingredients
SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream 52 ingredients
AngelaK._616
Disappointed
I wanted to love this, especially at its price point but I am sadly disappointed.
I am 64 and my skin isnt that bad but I do have...
Disappointed
I wanted to love this, especially at its price point but I am sadly disappointed.
I am 64 and my skin isnt that bad but I do have some redness, some dullness, large pores here and there and fine lines.
I used this every night for 9 weeks.
I see absolutely no change whatsoever for any of my skin concerns. I feel duped yet again by false promises.
The only pros are: the nice container, and that it is not irritating at all.
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 41 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to ZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator.
See 41 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 2 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream.
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