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The Inkey List
Starter Retinol Serum

Versus

Platinum Skincare
Fade Bright Lightening

Product category and function

Starter Retinol Serum

Fade Bright Lightening

Retinoid Serums/Creams	Retinoid Serums/Creams
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Ingredient highlights

Starter Retinol Serum

Fade Bright Lightening

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 cruelty-free

Full ingredient list

Starter Retinol Serum

Fade Bright Lightening

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. 9	Distilled water, squalane, sd alcohol 40-b, alpha arbutin, propylene glycol, kojic acid, glutathione, azelaic acid, ethoxydiglycol, glycerine, cetyl alcohol, dimethyl isosorbide, niacinamide, resveratrol, butylene glycol, dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, glyceryl stearate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, hydroxypinacolone retinoate, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin.

No. of common ingredients = 0

Total Number of ingredients = 36

Total Number of ingredients = 22

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.

Distilled water, squalane, sd alcohol 40-b, alpha arbutin, propylene glycol, kojic acid, glutathione, azelaic acid, ethoxydiglycol, glycerine, cetyl alcohol, dimethyl isosorbide, niacinamide, resveratrol, butylene glycol, dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, glyceryl stearate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, hydroxypinacolone retinoate, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin.

Notable ingredients

Starter Retinol Serum

Fade Bright Lightening

Anti-acne: Retinal

Soothing: Bisabolol

Skin brightening: Retinal

Anti-acne: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid

Soothing: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid

Skin brightening: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid

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Ingredients with their functions

Starter Retinol Serum

Fade Bright Lightening

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

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Dicaprylyl carbonate

Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Distilled water

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

Squalane

Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Sd alcohol 40-b

Function: Viscosity controlling, Astringent, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Alpha arbutin

Also-called: Alpha arbutin | Function: Skin conditioning, Antioxidant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Propylene glycol

Function: Viscosity controlling, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Kojic acid

Function: Antioxidant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Glutathione

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Azelaic acid

Function: Anti-acne, Soothing, Buffering, Skin brightening, Antioxidant

Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring acid found in fungi and certain grains. It offers several benefits for the skin, including reducing inflammation, decreasing redness, killing acne-causing bacteria, fading dark spots, improving skin texture, protecting against free radicals, and reducing sensitivity over time. It can be easily incorporated into skincare routines and works well with other ingredients.

For acne, azelaic acid prevents the thickening of the top layer of dead skin cells, which can clog pores and lead to breakouts. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it effective for treating inflammatory acne.

Ethoxydiglycol

Function: Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Glycerine

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

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Cetyl alcohol

Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Viscosity controlling, Surfactant/Cleansing, Skin conditioning, Emulsion stabilizing

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Dimethyl isosorbide

Function: Viscosity controlling, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Niacinamide

Also-called: Nicotinamide, Vitamin B3 | Function: Anti-acne, Soothing, Skin brightening, Cell-signaling ingredient

Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is a potent skincare ingredient renowned for its wide-ranging benefits.

It helps to strengthen the skin's barrier function, improve skin texture, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It's also effective in managing acne and reducing redness and inflammation.

Furthermore, it inhibits melanin production, thereby assisting in fading hyperpigmentation and evening out skin tone. Safe for almost all skin types, niacinamide is a versatile ingredient found in various skincare products.

Resveratrol

Function: Skin protecting, Antioxidant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Butylene glycol

Function: Viscosity controlling, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate

Also-called: Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate | Function: Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Glyceryl stearate

Also-called: Glycerol monostearate, GMS | Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Surfactant/Cleansing, Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.