Skin science article
Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 + Peptide Night Moisturizer Versus Hada Labo Premium Whitening Water Cream
Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 + Peptide Night Moisturizer Versus Hada Labo Premium Whitening Water Cream This anti-aging night moisturizer is formulated around Retinol and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This brightening moistu
Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 + Peptide Night Moisturizer Versus Hada Labo Premium Whitening Water Cream
This anti-aging night moisturizer is formulated around Retinol and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Alpha-Arbutin to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Dimethicone
Glycerin
Tapioca Starch
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Retinol
Retinyl Propionate
Niacinamide
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
DMDM Hydantoin
Polysorbate 20
Laureth-4
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Laureth-7
Dimethiconol
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Aminomethyl Propanol
Titanium Dioxide
Disodium EDTA
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Tapioca Starch, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Retinol, Retinyl Propionate, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, DMDM Hydantoin, Polysorbate 20, Laureth-4, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Laureth-7, Dimethiconol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Aminomethyl Propanol, Titanium Dioxide, Disodium EDTA, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Methylpropanediol
Cyclopentasiloxane
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
Cetyl Alcohol
Pentylene Glycol
Myristyl Stearate
Polysorbate 60
PEG-100 Stearate
Hydroxyacetophenone
Glyceryl Stearate
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Butylene Glycol
Alpha-Arbutin
Sodium Polyacrylate
Inonotus Obliquus Extract
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Saccharide Isomerate
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Xanthan Gum
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Trideceth-6
Trehalose
Opuntia Streptacantha Stem Extract
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Yeast Polysaccharides
1,2-Hexanediol
Sodium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Sodium Citrate
Citric Acid
Sodium Metabisulfite
Water, Methylpropanediol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Myristyl Stearate, Polysorbate 60, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Alpha-Arbutin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Trideceth-6, Disodium EDTA, Trehalose, Opuntia Streptacantha Stem Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Yeast Polysaccharides, Tapioca Starch, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Aminomethyl Propanol is used to adjust the pH of products. It is also used as a base to create other organic compounds. Having a balanced pH is important for protecting your skin.
Aminomethyl propanol is safe to use in cosmetics up to 1%. It is soluble in water.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Dimethicone Crosspolymer is a silicone created by modifying dimethicone with hydrocarbon side chains. Due to its large size, it does not penetrate skin. It is considered non-occlusive.
Dimethicone Crosspolymer is used to stabilize and thicken products. It also helps give products a silky feel.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
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.
Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Tapioca starch is a thickening agent and is made from the cassava root, also known as yucca.
According to a manufacturer, it is an excellent talc replacement.
It is gluten-free.
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!