Horace Bio-Retinol + Argireline Peptide Serum Versus Dermanat Bio-Retinol Serum

Horace Bio-Retinol + Argireline Peptide Serum Versus Dermanat Bio-Retinol Serum

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Saccharomyces Ferment to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Hyaluronic Acid to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Triethyl Citrate

Saccharomyces Ferment

Chlorella Vulgaris Extract

Xylitylglucoside

Benzyl Alcohol

Anhydroxylitol

Xanthan Gum

Propanediol

Xylitol

Dehydroacetic Acid

Raphanus Sativus Root Extract

Acacia Senegal Gum

Sclerotium Gum

Sodium Hydroxide

Algin

Lecithin

Maltodextrin

Caprylyl Glycol

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Citric Acid

Lactic Acid

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Water, Glycerin, Triethyl Citrate, Saccharomyces Ferment, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Benzyl Alcohol, Anhydroxylitol, Xanthan Gum, Propanediol, Xylitol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Raphanus Sativus Root Extract, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Algin, Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Gossypium Herbaceum Extract

Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil

Cetyl Alcohol

Glyceryl Stearate

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Hyaluronic Acid

Lilium Candidum Flower Extract

Camellia Sinensis Extract

Caffeine

Triethanolamine

Tocopheryl Acetate

Ceteareth-12

Sodium Acrylates Copolymer

Ethylhexylglycerin

BHT

Tetrasodium EDTA

Parfum

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Gossypium Herbaceum Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Caffeine, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceteareth-12, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, BHT, Tetrasodium EDTA, Parfum

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.

Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.

However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.

Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.

In skincare formulas, citric acid can:

While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.

Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.

Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.

However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.

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.

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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