GLAMFOX Double Effect Retinol + Collagen Serum Versus GLAMFOX Rosehip Oil + Niacinamide 10% Hydra Nourishing Serum

GLAMFOX Double Effect Retinol + Collagen Serum Versus GLAMFOX Rosehip Oil + Niacinamide 10% Hydra Nourishing Serum

This hydrating serum is formulated around Retinyl Palmitate and Panthenol to hydrate skin.

This hydrating serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Rosa Canina Fruit Oil to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Butylene Glycol

Glycerin

Dimethicone

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

1,2-Hexanediol

Cetearyl Olivate

Panthenol

Sorbitan Olivate

Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Ceteareth-20

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Isohexadecane

Retinyl Palmitate

Sodium Hyaluronate

Polysorbate 80

Tocopheryl Acetate

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil

Allantoin

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Olea Europaea Fruit Oil

Parfum

Adenosine

Glycine Soja Oil

Ethylhexylglycerin

Disodium EDTA

Olea Europaea Husk Oil

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Tocopherol

Bixa Orellana Seed Oil

Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract

Citronellol

Limonene

Geraniol

Linalool

Butylphenyl Methylpropional

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Panthenol, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ceteareth-20, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Isohexadecane, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 80, Tocopheryl Acetate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Allantoin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Parfum, Adenosine, Glycine Soja Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Olea Europaea Husk Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Tocopherol, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Citronellol, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional

Dipropylene Glycol

Niacinamide 10%

Rosa Canina Fruit Oil 5%

Rosa Damascena Flower Extract

Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate

Glyceryl Caprylate

Arginine

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Polysorbate 20

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Sodium Gluconate

Rose Flower Oil

Centella Asiatica Extract

Linoleic Acid

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Oleic Acid

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Palmitic Acid

Lycopodium Clavatum Extract

Stearic Acid

Linolenic Acid

Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide 10%, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil 5%, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Arginine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Isohexadecane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 80, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Gluconate, Rose Flower Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Linoleic Acid, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Oleic Acid, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Palmitic Acid, Lycopodium Clavatum Extract, Stearic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Tocopherol, Geraniol, Citronellol

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Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.

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 preservatives

Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.

Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.

It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.

Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.

This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.

Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.

Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

Citronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".

Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.

Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.

Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,

Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

Geraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.

Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.

Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.

Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.

Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.

Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.

2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-

Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.

Topically, glycerin does several things at once:

Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.

Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.

This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.

Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Isohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.

Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.

Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.

Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.

There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.

D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.

Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):

Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.

This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.

Polysorbate 80 is a synthetic surfactant and emulsifier derived from sorbitol and oleic acid.

It reduces the surface tension between oil and water phases to help them stay mixed and stable in a formulation. In other words, it prevents your formulas from separating into an oily mess.

The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the scientific data and found this ingredient to be safe, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing at concentrations up to 5% (it's even approved by the FDA as an OTC eye drop ingredient).

This long ingredient is a copolymer of sodium acrylate and sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate monomers.

It is used to help stabilize other ingredients and create a thicker gel-like texture.

Emulsifiers prevent oils and waters from separating.

Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.

In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.

Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:

Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.

Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.

You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.

Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.

You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.

Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.

It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.

This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.

This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.

In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.

Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.

Tocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.

Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.

It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.

One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.

Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.

Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.

Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.

The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.

Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.

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. Remember to stay hydrated!

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