Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener versus ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense .
Published on February 08, 2024
Overview
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, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain common allergens, fragrances, oils and silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Day Moisturizer
Day Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin during the daytime.
Price
Ingredient Info
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 49 ingredients
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense 51 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
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 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are 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 🎉
Contains Parabens
Ingredients in this product that are types 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:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are 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 Retinol Skin Brightener 49 ingredients
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense 51 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 49 ingredients
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense 51 ingredients
Water • Dimethicone • Cetearyl Isononanoate • Glycerin • Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil • Cetearyl Alcohol • Cetyl Alcohol • Steareth-20 • Pentylene Glycol • Ascorbyl Glucoside • Acrylamide/Ammonium Acrylate Copolymer • Polysorbate 20 • Retinol • Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil • Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil • Lavandula Angustifolia Oil • Propylheptyl Caprylate • Bakuchiol • Acetyl Glucosamine • Cetearyl Glucoside • Lecithin • Polyisobutene • Alcohol • Glutathione • Carbomer • Caprylyl Glycol • Bisabolol • 1,2-Hexanediol • Silica • Polysorbate 80 • BHA • Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate • Disodium EDTA • Sorbitan Isostearate • Gluconolactone • Tocopheryl Acetate • Sodium Sulfite • Sodium Metabisulfite • Ascorbyl Palmitate • Soy Isoflavones • Sodium Hydroxide • Potassium Sorbate • Sodium Benzoate • Linalool • Citronellol • Geraniol • Limonene • Citral • Coumarin
Water • Cetearyl Isononanoate • Cyclopentasiloxane • Cyclohexasiloxane • Pentylene Glycol • Cetearyl Alcohol • Glycerin • Steareth-20 • Jojoba Esters • Carbomer • C14-22 Alcohols • Phenoxyethanol • Cetearyl Glucoside • Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters • Polysorbate 20 • Butylene Glycol • Palmitoyl Oligopeptide • Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 • Sodium Hydroxide • Caprylyl Glycol • C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside • Ethylhexylglycerin • Lactose • Disodium EDTA • Cellulose • Hexylene Glycol • Potassium Sorbate • Beta-Glucan • 1,2-Hexanediol • Methylparaben • Lecithin • Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose • Sorbitol • EDTA • Benzoic Acid • Sodium Benzoate • Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract • Micrococcus Lysate • Retinol • Retinyl Palmitate • Tocopheryl Acetate • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil • Citrus Limon Peel Oil • Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil • Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil • Mentha Piperita Oil • Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract • Tocopherol • Limonene • CI 77007 • CI 60730
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 Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 1.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 1.
We don't have a description for Cetearyl Isononanoate.
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 3.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense 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 Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 4.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 7.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 6.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 6.
Steareth-20 is a waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients. It is created from stearyl alcohol.
It possesses surfactant properties. This means it reduces surface tension and helps oils, dirt, and pollutants to be washed away.
The 20 stands for the number of ethylene oxide used to create this ingredient.
Learn more about Steareth-20ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 8.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 8.
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 GlycolZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 9.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 5.
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 20ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 12.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 15.
Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. 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 RetinolZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 13.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 39.
Cetearyl Glucoside is a surfactant and emulsifier. It can be produced from synthetic of natural sources of cetearyl alcohol and glucose.
Emulsifiers help prevent ingredients from separating, such as oils and waters. It can also be used to enhance the texture of products.
As a surfactant, Cetearyl Glucoside helps during the cleansing process. By gathering all the dirt and oils, it allows these molecules to be washed away easily.
Learn more about Cetearyl GlucosideZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 20.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 13.
Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of fatty acids. These fatty acids usually are a mixture of phosphoric acid's choline ester connected to stearic, oleic, and palmitic acids. Most lecithins are created from plant ingredients scuh as sunflower.
Lecithin is an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin. The phospholipids in Lecithin can produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Learn more about LecithinZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 21.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 31.
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.
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 25.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 10.
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 GlycolZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 26.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 20.
1,2-Hexanediol is a multi-tasker ingredient. It acts as a preservative to increase shelf-life and can aid other preservatives in preventing microbe growth. 1,2-Hexanediol also helps the skin retain moisture as a humectant.
In products that are water-based, this ingredient can help stabilize perfumes and fragrances. It can also help make the texture of products softer and more smooth.
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 28.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 29.
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 Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 33.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 24.
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 Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 36.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 41.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 41.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 19.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
Potassium sorbate is potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
Potassium sorbate is often used with stronger preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 42.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 27.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
Sodium Benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 43.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 36.
Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener contains this as ingredient number 47.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense contains this as ingredient number 49.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 49 ingredients
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense 51 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 49 ingredients
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense 51 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 1 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener.
See 1 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 4 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense.
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