Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum Versus First Aid Beauty 0.3% Retinol Complex Serum with Peptides

Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum Versus First Aid Beauty 0.3% Retinol Complex Serum with Peptides Detailed comparison of Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum versus First Aid Beauty 0.3% Retinol Complex Serum with Peptides. This anti-aging serum is formulated

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Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum Versus First Aid Beauty 0.3% Retinol Complex Serum with Peptides Detailed comparison of Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum versus First Aid Beauty 0.3% Retinol Complex Serum with Peptides. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinal and Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinyl Propionate and Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. Water Glycerin Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Isopentyldiol Trioctyldodecyl Citrate Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil 1,2-Hexanediol Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil Panthenol Triolein Retinal Ceramide NP Tocopherol Retinol Tocopheryl Acetate Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Copernicia Cerifera Wax Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil Glyceryl Dioleate Bisabolol Allantoin Dunaliella Salina Extract Ethyl Ferulate Humulus Lupulus Extract Zingiber Officinale Root Extract Arginine Propanediol Cellulose Gum Sclerotium Gum Ubiquinone Lactic Acid Sodium Phytate Caprylyl Glycol Inulin Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Polysorbate 20 Citric Acid Cellulose Fructose Glucose Sorbitan Isostearate Xanthan Gum Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopentyldiol, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Panthenol, Triolein, Retinal, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil, Glyceryl Dioleate, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Ethyl Ferulate, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Arginine, Propanediol, Cellulose Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Ubiquinone, Lactic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Caprylyl Glycol, Inulin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Cellulose, Fructose, Glucose, Sorbitan Isostearate, Xanthan Gum Dimethicone Retinyl Propionate Pentapeptide-34 Trifluoroacetate Hydroxyacetophenone Dimethicone Crosspolymer Dimethiconol Disodium EDTA Isohexadecane Laureth-4 Mica Polysorbate 60 Sodium Citrate BHT Phenoxyethanol Sodium Benzoate CI 77891 Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Retinyl Propionate, Retinol, Pentapeptide-34 Trifluoroacetate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citric Acid, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Laureth-4, Mica, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Propanediol, Sodium Citrate, Sorbitan Isostearate, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77891 These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel. While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns. Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source. This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out. This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%. 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