The INKEY List Bakuchiol Moisturizer Versus Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum

The INKEY List Bakuchiol Moisturizer Versus Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum Detailed comparison of The INKEY List Bakuchiol Moisturizer versus Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum. This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Bakuchiol and Squalane to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Squalane and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier. Water Squalane Glycerin Propanediol Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil Dicaprylyl Carbonate Bakuchiol Phenoxyethanol Sodium Caproyl Prolinate Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Carbomer Sodium Hydroxide Ethylhexylglycerin Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate Polysorbate 60 Phytic Acid Glyceryl Polyacrylate Sorbitan Isostearate Tocopherol Water, Squalane, Glycerin, Propanediol, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Bakuchiol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Caproyl Prolinate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polysorbate 60, Phytic Acid, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol Niacinamide Sodium Acrylates Copolymer Sodium Hyaluronate Rosa Canina Fruit Oil Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil Biosaccharide Gum-1 Yeast Extract Soy Amino Acids Lecithin Hexylene Glycol Caprylyl Glycol Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate Citric Acid Linalool Geraniol Limonene Water, Squalane, Niacinamide, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Bakuchiol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Yeast Extract, Soy Amino Acids, Lecithin, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant. It has antimicrobial, emollient, skin conditioning, and antioxidant properties. You'll likely see it called a "retinol replacement" but the two are technically not related. This is because bakuchiol is able to flip many of the same switches in your skin cells to tell them to: 1) produce more collagen (type I, III, and IV) 2) activate the same genes retinoids do Unlike retinoids, this ingredient will not increase photosensitivity and is safe to use during pregnancy (but please still check in with your doctor!). The flagship clinical trial from Dhaliwal et al. 2019 found 0.5% bakuchiol (twice daily) and 0.5% retinol (once daily) reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation equally, but bakuchiol had significantly less irritation. Systematic reviews also back this up: Bakuchiol is comparable to retinol for photoaging but with better tolerability. It also has mild antibacterial properties against Cutibacterium acnes and antifungal activity in vitro against Candida and dermatophytes. The reason bakuchiol works well is due to its structure; it is a meroterpene phenol, or a hybrid molecule. The phenol half acts as an antioxidant while the terpene half is fat-loving. This helps the molecule slip through the skin barrier. This ingredient is usually used between 0.5-2%. Only one case of contact dermatitis has ever been reported for this ingredient. 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