First Aid Beauty 0.3% Retinol Complex Serum with Peptides Versus The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% In Squalane

First Aid Beauty 0.3% Retinol Complex Serum with Peptides Versus The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% In Squalane Detailed comparison of First Aid Beauty 0.3% Retinol Complex Serum with Peptides versus The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% In Squalane. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinyl Propionate and Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Squalane and Retinol 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 Squalane Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Retinol, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, BHT Be the first to review 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%. Retinol is one of the most studied anti-aging ingredients in skincare (and for good reason!). It's a form of vitamin A that your skin converts into Retinoic Acid, the active molecule that actually does the work in your cells. That conversion happens in two steps: your skin first turns Retinol into Retinaldehyde (also called Retinal), then turns Retinaldehyde into Retinoic Acid. Retinol is converted to biologically active retinoic acid via retinaldehyde by dehydrogenases in a two-step oxidation process. Each step is a little "upgrade" toward the active form which is part of why Retinol is gentler than prescription Retinoic Acid; your skin does the work gradually. This also explains where Retinol sits in the retinoid family. Here is the retinoid family ranked roughly by strength: Retinyl Esters (like Retinyl Palmitate) < Retinol < Retinaldehyde < Retinoic Acid. Retinoid activity increases in that order, while tolerance runs in reverse; retinyl esters are the gentlest and retinoic acid the most irritating. The more conversion steps an ingredient nee