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The Inkey List
Starter Retinol Serum

Versus

Medik8
Crystal Retinal

Product category and function

Starter Retinol Serum

Crystal Retinal

Retinoid Serums/Creams	Retinoid Serums/Creams
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Ingredient highlights

Starter Retinol Serum

Crystal Retinal

Ingredient info	Ingredient info
Alcohol-free Paraben-free SLS-free Mica-free Fragrance-free vegan cruelty-free	Alcohol-free Paraben-free SLS-free Mica-free Fragrance-free vegan cruelty-free

Full ingredient list

Starter Retinol Serum

Crystal Retinal

No. of common ingredients = 0
Water (aqua/eau), glycerin, dicaprylyl carbonate, propanediol, candelilla/jojoba/rice bran polyglyceryl-3 esters, glyceryl stearate, cetyl alcohol, cyclodextrin, glyceryl behenate, phenoxyethanol, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, sodium stearoyl lactylate, cetearyl alcohol, squalane, phospholipids, xanthan gum, bisabolol, glycine soja (soybean) oil, polysorbate 60, ethylhexylglycerin, sodium phytate, glucosylrutin, hydroxypinacolone retinoate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, glycolipids, citric acid, sorbitan isostearate, polysorbate 80, glycine soja (soybean) sterols, retinal, sucrose laurate, tocopherol, zingiber officinale (ginger) root extract, 1,2-hexanediol, hydroxyacetophenone, inulin lauryl carbamate. 14	Water, caprylic/capric triglyceride, glycerin, isododecane, cetearyl olivate, sodium acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, cetearyl alcohol, ppg-12/smdi copolymer, sorbitan olivate, tocopheryl acetate, squalane, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, hydroxyacetophenone, cyclodextrin, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, sodium polyaspartate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, sodium hyaluronate, phenoxyethanol, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, daucus carota sativa (carrot) seed oil, retinal, alumina, isostearic acid, lecithin, polyglyceryl-3 polyricinoleate, polyhydroxystearic acid, lonicera japonica (honeysuckle) flower extract, lonicera caprifolium (honeysuckle) flower extract, stearic acid, citric acid, bht, rubus chamaemorus seed oil, polysorbate 60, disodium edta, ethylhexylglycerin, sorbitan isostearate, pentylene glycol, vanilla planifolia fruit extract, dipteryx odorata bean extract, coumarin, red 4, titanium dioxide/ci 77891.

No. of common ingredients = 0

Total Number of ingredients = 36

Total Number of ingredients = 43

Water (aqua/eau), glycerin, dicaprylyl carbonate, propanediol, candelilla/jojoba/rice bran polyglyceryl-3 esters, glyceryl stearate, cetyl alcohol, cyclodextrin, glyceryl behenate, phenoxyethanol, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, sodium stearoyl lactylate, cetearyl alcohol, squalane, phospholipids, xanthan gum, bisabolol, glycine soja (soybean) oil, polysorbate 60, ethylhexylglycerin, sodium phytate, glucosylrutin, hydroxypinacolone retinoate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, glycolipids, citric acid, sorbitan isostearate, polysorbate 80, glycine soja (soybean) sterols, retinal, sucrose laurate, tocopherol, zingiber officinale (ginger) root extract, 1,2-hexanediol, hydroxyacetophenone, inulin lauryl carbamate.

Water, caprylic/capric triglyceride, glycerin, isododecane, cetearyl olivate, sodium acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, cetearyl alcohol, ppg-12/smdi copolymer, sorbitan olivate, tocopheryl acetate, squalane, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, hydroxyacetophenone, cyclodextrin, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, sodium polyaspartate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, sodium hyaluronate, phenoxyethanol, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, daucus carota sativa (carrot) seed oil, retinal, alumina, isostearic acid, lecithin, polyglyceryl-3 polyricinoleate, polyhydroxystearic acid, lonicera japonica (honeysuckle) flower extract, lonicera caprifolium (honeysuckle) flower extract, stearic acid, citric acid, bht, rubus chamaemorus seed oil, polysorbate 60, disodium edta, ethylhexylglycerin, sorbitan isostearate, pentylene glycol, vanilla planifolia fruit extract, dipteryx odorata bean extract, coumarin, red 4, titanium dioxide/ci 77891.

Notable ingredients

Starter Retinol Serum

Crystal Retinal

Anti-acne: Retinal

Soothing: Bisabolol

Skin brightening: Retinal

Anti-acne: Retinal

Soothing: Lonicera caprifolium (honeysuckle) flower extract

Skin brightening: Retinal, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid

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Ingredients with their functions

Starter Retinol Serum

Crystal Retinal

Water (aqua/eau)

Also-called: Aqua, Aqua/Water, Water/Aqua/Eau, Aqua/Water/Eau | Function: Skin conditioning, Solvent

Water serves as a fundamental component in skincare products, often listed as the first ingredient, which means it's the most abundant. It acts as a solvent, helping to dissolve other ingredients and facilitate the application and absorption of products.

Glycerin

Also-called: Glycerol | Function: Skin-identical ingredient, Viscosity controlling, Skin protecting, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent