Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Deconstruct Retinol & Peptide Serum Versus Foxtale Retinol Night Serum

Deconstruct Retinol & Peptide Serum Versus Foxtale Retinol Night Serum Detailed comparison of Deconstruct Retinol & Peptide Serum versus Foxtale Retinol Night Serum. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine s

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Deconstruct Retinol & Peptide Serum Versus Foxtale Retinol Night Serum Detailed comparison of Deconstruct Retinol & Peptide Serum versus Foxtale Retinol Night Serum. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinol and Epigallocatechin Gallate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. Water Rosa Damascena Flower Water Pisum Sativum Extract Pentylene Glycol Lecithin Retinol Betaine Polysorbate 20 Potassium Phosphate Glycerin Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin Palmaria Palmata Extract Xanthan Gum Amylopectin Magnesium Aspartate Zinc Gluconate Copper Gluconate Sodium Gluconate Hyaluronic Acid Tocopheryl Acetate Water, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Pisum Sativum Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Lecithin, Retinol, Betaine, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Phosphate, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Xanthan Gum, Amylopectin, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Sodium Gluconate, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate Coco-Caprylate Propylene Glycol Cetearyl Olivate Sorbitan Olivate Dimethicone Behenyl Alcohol BHT BHA Poloxamer 235 Epigallocatechin Gallate Disodium EDTA Sodium Ascorbate Garcinia Indica Seed Butter Palmitoyl Glycine Octenidine Hcl Glyceryl Stearate Allantoin Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate Carbomer Triethanolamine Water, Coco-Caprylate, Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Dimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, BHT, BHA, Retinol, Poloxamer 235, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Ascorbate, Garcinia Indica Seed Butter, Palmitoyl Glycine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Octenidine Hcl, Glyceryl Stearate, Allantoin, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration. Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte. Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even. Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability. Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine. 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. Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!). It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome. On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive. Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10). You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own. Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU. Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages. Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon. 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 bu