Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

The INKEY List Retinol Serum Versus Clef Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel

The INKEY List Retinol Serum Versus Clef Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel Detailed comparison of The INKEY List Retinol Serum versus Clef Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinyl Acetate and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 to soften the lo

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The INKEY List Retinol Serum Versus Clef Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel Detailed comparison of The INKEY List Retinol Serum versus Clef Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinyl Acetate and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This mild gel cleanser is mild enough to cleanse without leaving skin feeling tight or stripped. Water Glycerin Butylene Glycol Propanediol Dicaprylyl Carbonate Retinyl Acetate Dimethicone Phenoxyethanol Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Caprylyl Glycol Phospholipids Squalane Glycine Soja Oil Carbomer Polysorbate 60 Tocopheryl Acetate Glycolipids Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Phytate Sorbitan Isostearate Glycine Soja Sterols Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate Hyaluronic Acid Sodium Lactate Tocopherol Polysorbate 20 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Retinyl Acetate, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Phospholipids, Squalane, Glycine Soja Oil, Carbomer, Polysorbate 60, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycolipids, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate Cocamidopropyl Betaine Decyl Glucoside Sodium Cocoamphoacetate Trehalose Betaine Sodium PCA PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate Panthenol Sodium Polyglutamate Ferulic Acid Disodium EDTA DNA Glycyrrhizic Acid Resveratrol Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Trehalose, Betaine, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium PCA, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Polyglutamate, Ferulic Acid, Disodium EDTA, DNA, Glycyrrhizic Acid, Resveratrol 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. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir. Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated. The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters. Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair. This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds. The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%. A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance. These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid: 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 up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages. Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon. Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product. So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation. You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!