Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

First Aid Beauty 0.3% Retinol Complex Serum with Peptides Versus First Aid Beauty Skin Lab Retinol Serum .25% Pure Concentrate

First Aid Beauty 0.3% Retinol Complex Serum with Peptides Versus First Aid Beauty Skin Lab Retinol Serum .25% Pure Concentrate Detailed comparison of First Aid Beauty 0.3% Retinol Complex Serum with Peptides versus First Aid Beauty Skin Lab Retinol Serum .25%

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First Aid Beauty 0.3% Retinol Complex Serum with Peptides Versus First Aid Beauty Skin Lab Retinol Serum .25% Pure Concentrate Detailed comparison of First Aid Beauty 0.3% Retinol Complex Serum with Peptides versus First Aid Beauty Skin Lab Retinol Serum .25% Pure Concentrate. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinyl Propionate and Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Retinol and Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. 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 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 Polysorbate 80 Butylene Glycol Persea Gratissima Oil Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate Colloidal Oatmeal Tocopherol Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid Ceramide NP Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Linoleic Acid Allantoin Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides Palmitic Acid Oleic Acid Glycine Soja Oil Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Triolein Caprylyl Glycol Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Xanthan Gum Lecithin Stearic Acid Maltodextrin BHA Sodium Hydroxide Potassium Sorbate Water, Polysorbate 80, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Retinol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Colloidal Oatmeal, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Linoleic Acid, Allantoin, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Palmitic Acid, Oleic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Triolein, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Stearic Acid, Maltodextrin, BHT, BHA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative. As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation. The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU. However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024. 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%. 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 shu