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Olay Super Serum Versus Simply Vital Collagen, Retinol & Hyaluronic Acid Cream

Olay Super Serum Versus Simply Vital Collagen, Retinol & Hyaluronic Acid Cream This smoothing serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Lactic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin. This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Retinol

By Collagen & Peptide Nutrition Editorial TeamPublished

Olay Super Serum Versus Simply Vital Collagen, Retinol & Hyaluronic Acid Cream

This smoothing serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Lactic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.

This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Dimethicone

Niacinamide

Lactic Acid

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Sodium Hyaluronate

Tocopheryl Acetate

Panthenol

Trehalose

PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone

Sodium Lactate

Mica

Titanium Dioxide

Sodium Benzoate

Parfum

Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Lactic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Trehalose, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Sodium Lactate, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Cocos Nucifera Oil

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Aloe Barbadensis Sprout

Stearyl Alcohol

Stearic Acid

Isopropyl Myristate

Retinol

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Hyaluronic Acid

Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer

Phenoxyethanol

Caprylyl Glycol

Potassium Sorbate

Imidazolidinyl Urea

EDTA

Carbomer

Persea Gratissima Oil

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Sprout, Stearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Isopropyl Myristate, Retinol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Imidazolidinyl Urea, EDTA, Carbomer, Persea Gratissima Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate

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Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Tocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.

Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.

It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.

One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.

Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.

Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.

This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.

Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.

The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.

Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.

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!

Similar Comparisons

SUPPLEMENTAL FIELD FILE

Notes to carry forward.

Source-derived references linked through this guide’s public topic markers.

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REFERENCE CARDS

Ingredients, lists & structured values

INGREDIENT LIST

Ingredients Explained

  • These ingredients are found in both products.
  • Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
  • Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
  • Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
  • Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
  • 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.
  • Retinol is one of the most studied anti-aging ingredients in skincare (and for good reason!).
  • It's a form of vitamin A that your skin converts into Retinoic Acid, the active molecule that actually does the work in your cells.
  • That conversion happens in two steps: your skin first turns Retinol into Retinaldehyde (also called Retinal), then turns Retinaldehyde into Retinoic Acid.
  • Retinol is converted to biologically active retinoic acid via retinaldehyde by dehydrogenases in a two-step oxidation process.
  • Each step is a little "upgrade" toward the active form which is part of why Retinol is gentler than prescription Retinoic Acid; your skin does the work gradually. This also explains where Retinol sits in the retinoid family.
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PROVISION SHELF

Products & side-by-side records

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