StriVectin Advanced Retinol Nightly Multi Correct Serum Versus DRMTLGY Peptide Night Cream

StriVectin Advanced Retinol Nightly Multi Correct Serum Versus DRMTLGY Peptide Night Cream

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Ectoin and Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.

This anti-aging night moisturizer is formulated around Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 to soften the look of wrinkles.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Triheptanoin

Propanediol

Myristyl Nicotinate

Dicaprylyl Ether

Coconut Alkanes

Squalane

Dimethicone

1,2-Hexanediol

Ectoin

Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone

Retinol

Withania Somnifera Root Extract

Polyglutamic Acid

Morus Alba Leaf Extract

Oryza Sativa Bran Extract

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate

Chondrus Crispus Extract

Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Bacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate

Helianthus Annuus Extract

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Glycerin

Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract

Beta-Glucan

Hordeum Vulgare Extract

Behenyl Alcohol

Glyceryl Behenate

Bisabolol

Lecithin

Tocopheryl Acetate

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

Pentylene Glycol

Caprylyl Glycol

Polysorbate 20

Phytosterols

Polysilicone-11

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Methyl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer

Tocopherol

Polyisobutene

Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Synthetic Fluorphlogopite

Hydroxyacetophenone

Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Sorbitan Oleate

Xanthan Gum

Disodium EDTA

Propyl Gallate

Caprylhydroxamic Acid

Aminomethyl Propanol

Silica

Ascorbic Acid

Parfum

BHT

Citric Acid

Tin Oxide

Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone

CI 77891

Water, Triheptanoin, Propanediol, Myristyl Nicotinate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Coconut Alkanes, Squalane, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ectoin, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Retinol, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Polyglutamic Acid, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Bacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract, Beta-Glucan, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Behenate, Bisabolol, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Phytosterols, Polysilicone-11, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Methyl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Propyl Gallate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Silica, Ascorbic Acid, Parfum, BHT, Citric Acid, Tin Oxide, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, CI 77891

Glyceryl Stearate

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

Isopropyl Palmitate

Undecane

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Cetyl Alcohol

PEG-100 Stearate

Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2

Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate

Ceramide NP

Ceramide AP

Ceramide EOP

Phytosphingosine

Cholesterol

Tridecane

Allantoin

Glycol Distearate

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Butylene Glycol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Carbomer

Dextran

Magnesium Chloride

Phenoxyethanol

Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate

Water, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Undecane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Tridecane, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Glycol Distearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Dextran, Magnesium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum

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.

This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.

Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).

Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.

Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.

While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.

This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.

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.

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.

Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.

It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.

The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.

Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).

True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.

Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

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.

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!

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

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