Comparison between CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs. Walgreens Refining Retinol Serum

Find out which product is better for your skin.

34 Ingredients 32

1
Water
1
Water
2
Propanediol
2
Cetearyl Alcohol
3
Dimethicone
3
Propanediol
4
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
4
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
5
Niacinamide
5
Sodium Hyaluronate
6
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
6
Niacinamide
7
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
7
Dimethicone
8
Hydrogenated Lecithin
8
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
-- Show others --
Uniqueness11 out of 34
32.4%
Uniqueness9 out of 32
28.1%

Positive Effects

Find out what good effects the product has

ECO Metrics

Find out how eco-friendly the components are
Vegan
No
No
Cruelty free
No
No
Reef friendly
Yes
Yes
Ozone layer safe
Yes
Yes
Organic score
natural
8 out of 34
24%
chemical
20 out of 34
59%
natural
8 out of 32
25%
chemical
20 out of 32
63%

Concerns

Pay attention to these components
-- Extra information --

Components by Skin Type

Find out what components are good or bad for your skin type
Dry skin
Positive: 1Negative: 1
Sodium Hyaluronate#20Alcohol Denatured#24
Oily skin
Positive: 0Negative: 1
Isopropyl Myristate#25
Sensitive skin
Positive: 0Negative: 2
Retinol (Vitamin A)#19Citric Acid#27
Dry skin
Positive: 2Negative: 0
Sodium Hyaluronate#5Glycerin#23
Oily skin
Positive: 0Negative: 1
Isopropyl Myristate#22
Sensitive skin
Positive: 0Negative: 2
Retinol (Vitamin A)#15Citric Acid#32

Detailed view

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs. Walgreens Refining Retinol Serum
Position 1
Both products have the same component on this position.

#1Water

Origin: natural
Role: Solvent
EWG Rating [ 1 ]

Water is a great solvent. It’s neutral and doesn’t provide any strong positive or negative effects. It just helps components to mix better and to transport active components.

Position 2

#2Propanediol

Origin: chemical
Role: Solvent, Viscosity controlling agent
Moisturizing
Hair conditioning
EWG Rating [ 2 ]

Propanediol is a good solvent, emollient and humectant. It helps to moisturize the skin and prevent moisture loss. In haircare products, it conditions hair and improves absorption of the product.

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#2Cetearyl Alcohol

Origin: chemical
Role: Emollient, Emulsifying agent, Emulsion stabilizer, Foam booster, Surfactant, Viscosity controlling agent
Comedogenic rating [ 2 ]
EWG Rating [ 1 ]
CIR Rating [ A ]

Cetearyl Alcohol is used mostly for formulation purposes. It’s a very good emulsifier and emulsion stabilizer. It helps the ingredients mix better and it makes the product spread on your skin evenly. It also makes the product thicker. It doesn’t belong to harmful alcohols and it will not dry your skin.

Position 3

#3Dimethicone

Origin: chemical
Role: Skin conditioning agent, Antifoaming agent, Emollient
Silicones
EWG Rating [ 1 ]
CIR Rating [ A ]

Dimethicone is the most popular silicone. It makes the skin softer and forms a film adding smooth and silky feeling. This film not only improves how the skin feels but also works as a protective barrier. It also improves the visual appearance of your skin by filling small wrinkles. What you should really know is that this component is difficult to wash off! So make sure you did proper cleansing after using it.

-- versus --

#3Propanediol

Origin: chemical
Role: Solvent, Viscosity controlling agent
Moisturizing
Hair conditioning
EWG Rating [ 2 ]

Propanediol is a good solvent, emollient and humectant. It helps to moisturize the skin and prevent moisture loss. In haircare products, it conditions hair and improves absorption of the product.

Position 4
Both products have the same component on this position.

#4Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate

Origin: chemical
Role: Skin conditioning agent, Emollient, Hair conditioning
EWG Rating [ 1 ]
CIR Rating [ B ]
Position 5

#5Niacinamide

Origin: chemical
Role: Skin conditioning agent, Hair conditioning, Smoothing
Antioxidants
Acne fighting
Pore Shrinking
Soothing
Anti-aging
Lightening
Elasticity improvement
EWG Rating [ 1 ]

Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3 and it’s a superman in cosmetics. This ingredient is researched very well. It has a lot of positive reviews from scientists and experts. It's very important for healthy skin. The lack of this vitamin can cause dryness, itching, and sun sensitivity. The component removes small wrinkles and fine lines, heals wounds, and prevents the forming of cancer cells. It also makes the skin tone even by removing dark spots. It increases ceramide synthesis which increases the overall health of your skin. It fights acne and lowers pores.

Researches say that 4-5% of Niacinamide is the most effective concentration for skincare use.

-- versus --

#5Sodium Hyaluronate

Origin: No information
Role: Skin conditioning agent, Humectant
Moisturizing
Softening
Anti-aging
Rejuvenation
EWG Rating [ 1 ]
CIR Rating [ A ]
Good for dry skin
Good for dry skin

Sodium Hyaluronate is an amazing component! It plays very important role in skin hydration process. It helps to maintain water balance and lower water loss. Scientists have found a direct dependence between the level of Sodium Hyaluronate in cells and skin aging. That's why this component is so much important. It must be in your routine if you want to have a healthy and fresh looking skin.

Some people think that Sodium Hyaluronate and Hyaluronic acid are different names of the same component, but it is not entirely correct. Hyaluronic acid is a different chemical but with similar effects. Actually, Sodium Hyaluronate is used in cosmetics much more often because it’s more stable and has much better resistance to oxidation.

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Disclaimer: All the information on the website is not a medical advice. Visit a doctor if you have problems.

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