Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum Versus Indeed Labs Retinol Reface Serum

The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum Versus Indeed Labs Retinol Reface Serum Detailed comparison of The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum versus Indeed Labs Retinol Reface Serum. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine

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The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum Versus Indeed Labs Retinol Reface Serum Detailed comparison of The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum versus Indeed Labs Retinol Reface Serum. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This anti-aging night moisturizer is formulated around Bakuchiol and Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. Water Glycerin Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil Persea Gratissima Oil Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Squalane Cetearyl Alcohol Glyceryl Stearate Se Retinol Phenoxyethanol Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Benzyl Alcohol Phospholipids Tocopherol Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 Glycine Soja Oil Ethylhexylglycerin Glycolipids Dehydroacetic Acid Polysorbate 60 Sorbitan Isostearate Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Glycine Soja Sterols T-Butyl Alcohol Water, Glycerin, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Retinol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Phospholipids, Tocopherol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glycine Soja Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycolipids, Dehydroacetic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Glycine Soja Sterols, T-Butyl Alcohol Dimethicone Isodecyl Neopentanoate Isononyl Isononanoate Propanediol Caprylyl Methicone Cetyl Alcohol Pentylene Glycol PEG-100 Stearate Bakuchiol Dimethicone Crosspolymer Glyceryl Stearate Cetearyl Glucoside 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol 1,2-Hexanediol Caprylyl Glycol Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Isohexadecane Butylene Glycol Xanthan Gum Polysorbate 80 Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin Sorbitan Oleate Carbomer Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 Acacia Senegal Gum Extract Propylene Glycol Alginate Water, Dimethicone, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Methicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-100 Stearate, Bakuchiol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja Oil, Polysorbate 80, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sorbitan Oleate, Retinol, Carbomer, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Acacia Senegal Gum Extract, Tocopherol, Propylene Glycol Alginate These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier. Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient. It plays several roles in a formula: Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products. Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people. However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers. Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy. Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans. Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients. This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize. A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe. 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 Oil is a plant-derived oil from soybean seeds. Like other oils, it is rich in essential fatty acids (mostly linoleic and oleic) that support skin hydration and barrier function. The fatty acids are able to integrate into the lipid matrix of the stratum corneum to help soften skin and reduce water loss. On to