Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream Versus The INKEY List Retinol Serum

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream Versus The INKEY List Retinol Serum Detailed comparison of CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream versus The INKEY List Retinol Serum. This barrier-repair night moisturizer is formulated around Ceramide NP and Niacinamide to strength

This source-based comparison does not add ratings or recommend a winner.

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream Versus The INKEY List Retinol Serum Detailed comparison of CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream versus The INKEY List Retinol Serum. This barrier-repair night moisturizer is formulated around Ceramide NP and Niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier and soften the look of wrinkles. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinyl Acetate and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. Water Glycerin Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer Cyclopentasiloxane Glyceryl Stearate Se Cetyl Alcohol Dimethicone Saccharide Isomerate Stearic Acid Palmitic Acid Glycine Soja Sterols Allantoin Ceramide NP Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Carbomer Niacinamide Cetearyl Alcohol Behentrimonium Methosulfate Sodium Hydroxide Myristic Acid Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Sodium Benzoate Sodium Citrate Sodium Hyaluronate Cholesterol Phenoxyethanol Tocopherol Tripeptide-1 Laureth-9 Citric Acid Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3 Biosaccharide Gum-1 Phytosphingosine Xanthan Gum Dextran Ethylhexylglycerin Butylene Glycol Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Saccharide Isomerate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Glycine Soja Sterols, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Tripeptide-1, Laureth-9, Citric Acid, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Dextran, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol Propanediol Dicaprylyl Carbonate Retinyl Acetate Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Caprylyl Glycol Phospholipids Squalane Glycine Soja Oil Polysorbate 60 Tocopheryl Acetate Glycolipids Sodium Phytate Sorbitan Isostearate Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate Hyaluronic Acid Sodium Lactate Polysorbate 20 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Retinyl Acetate, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Phospholipids, Squalane, Glycine Soja Oil, Carbomer, Polysorbate 60, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycolipids, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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. Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture. Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%. It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier. Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%. A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions. 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. 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. Glycine Soja Sterols are plant-derived fatty alcohols (phytosterols) f