algenist Elevate Advanced Retinol Serum

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Water
2. Dimethicone
3. Glycerin
4. Butylene Glycol
5. Pentylene Glycol
6. Polymethyl Methacrylate
7. Dimethicone Crosspolymer
8. Retinol
9. Parachlorella Beijerinckii Exopolysaccharides
10. Dunaliella Salina Extract
11. Ceramide NP
12. Myristoyl Nonapeptide-3
13. Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
14. Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
15. Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
16. Glycine Soja Extract
17. Tocopherol
18. Squalane
19. Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
20. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
21. Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
22. Sodium Pca
23. Polysorbate 20
24. Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
25. Sorbitan Laurate
26. Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
27. Sodium Hydroxide
28. Cetyl Palmitate
29. Hydrogenated Polydecene
30. Laureth-23
31. Polysorbate 60
32. Disodium EDTA
33. Hydroxyethylcellulose
34. Carbomer
35. Sodium Lactate
36. Sorbitan Isostearate
37. Trideceth-6 Phosphate
38. Dipropylene Glycol
39. Sodium Citrate
40. Mica
41. Caprylyl Glycol
42. Chlorphenesin
43. Phenoxyethanol
44. Fragrance
45. Linalool
46. Titanium Dioxide

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of sulfatesFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains siliconesContains animal-derivedContains PEGContains fragranceContains mineral oilContains EU-26 allergens

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

ANTIFOAMING

Dimethicone

DENATURANT

Glycerin

HUMECTANT

Butylene Glycol

SKIN CONDITIONING

Pentylene Glycol

FILM FORMING

Polymethyl Methacrylate

EMULSION STABILISING

Dimethicone Crosspolymer

SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS · 限制 III

Retinol

Other ingredients

Parachlorella Beijerinckii ExopolysaccharidesDunaliella Salina ExtractCeramide NPMyristoyl Nonapeptide-3Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl EsterGlycine Soja ExtractTocopherolSqualaneAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerCaprylic/Capric TriglycerideHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate CopolymerSodium PcaPolysorbate 20Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateSorbitan LaurateDimethicone/PEG-10/15 CrosspolymerSodium HydroxideCetyl PalmitateHydrogenated PolydeceneLaureth-23Polysorbate 60Disodium EDTAHydroxyethylcelluloseCarbomerSodium LactateSorbitan IsostearateTrideceth-6 PhosphateDipropylene GlycolSodium CitrateMicaCaprylyl GlycolChlorphenesinPhenoxyethanolFragranceLinaloolTitanium Dioxide

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water

Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth

Dimethicone

Silicone occlusive at 1–5%; provides smooth feel, non-penetrating, suitable for sensitive skin

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Butylene Glycol

Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel

Pentylene Glycol

Polyol humectant at 1-3%; low irritancy, suitable for sensitive skin

Polymethyl Methacrylate

PMMA for thickening, suspension, and film; micro-size powder carrier, very low irritation

Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Crosslinked silicone polymer providing silkiness and viscosity control; for hair and skin; inert but hard to biodegrade.

Retinol

Highly active and unstable, needs robust antioxidant encapsulation; 0.1-1.0%, pregnancy contraindicated

Parachlorella Beijerinckii Exopolysaccharides

Not decoded yet

Dunaliella Salina Extract

Microalgal extract used as a skin conditioning agent for soothing and barrier support; no public irritancy or comedogenic data.

Ceramide NP

Ceramide N3 for barrier repair; lipophilic, needs oil phase or emulsion, avoid high standalone use.

Myristoyl Nonapeptide-3

Not decoded yet

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 for repair; requires lipid carrier, unstable in aqueous phase

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 boosts collagen; use 0.1–1%, formulate with lipid carriers

Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester

Acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester for hair and skin; ester structure, avoid for oily skin, check compatibility.

Glycine Soja Extract

Contains soy protein for skin conditioning; soy protein may be allergenic, patch test for sensitive skin.

Tocopherol

Natural antioxidant (vitamin E) at 0.1–1%; prone to oxidation, store protected from light

Squalane

Emollient from plants or synthetic; light texture

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Crosspolymer for thickening/film; needs neutralization to pH 7-8 to hydrate, check ion strength.

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Light occlusive and solvent at 1–10%; non-greasy feel, suitable for oily and combination skin

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

High-molecular-weight thickener and emulsion stabilizer; requires electrolytes or acid adjustment near isoelectric point for optimal performance.

Sodium Pca

Sodium PCA, NMF component, 1-10% humectant; salty/tacky at high levels.

Polysorbate 20

Non-ionic emulsifier and cleansing surfactant; contains PEG, control microbial load.

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate for moisturizing/soothing; inhibits 5-LOX, water-soluble, for sensitive skin.

Sorbitan Laurate

O/W emulsifier; low-comedogenic ester, verify emulsion stability.

Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer

Silicone/PEG crosspolymer for film forming and viscosity; low irritation; PEG debate at high conc

Sodium Hydroxide

Strong base neutralizer for pH adjustment; handle with extreme care

Cetyl Palmitate

Waxy ester increasing viscosity and providing heavy feel; used as emulsifier carrier, low comedogenicity, strong occlusion.

Hydrogenated Polydecene

Hydrogenated polydecene, light mineral oil alternative, low comedogenic; silky, non-greasy.

Laureth-23

Not decoded yet

Polysorbate 60

Non-ionic emulsifier and solubilizer for O/W or W/O stability; may cause mild stinging on sensitive skin, typically 1-5%.

Disodium EDTA

Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Water-soluble cellulose ether for thickening and suspension stabilization; sensitive to ions, electrolytes reduce viscosity, use at pH 7-8.

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

Sodium Lactate

Sodium lactate for moisturizing and exfoliation; pH buffering agent

Sorbitan Isostearate

Non-ionic emulsifier (low HLB); typically used in blends, low comedogenicity, soft skin feel.

Trideceth-6 Phosphate

Non-ionic surfactant for solubilization and emulsification; low irritation, no public comedogenic data

Dipropylene Glycol

Solvent for essential oils; better humectancy than PEG

Sodium Citrate

Sodium citrate for buffering and chelating; adjust pH, careful with strong acid reactions.

Mica

Mineral colorant for pearlescence; heavy metal screening required

Caprylyl Glycol

Polyol conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–3%; emollient feel, often paired with 1,2-hexanediol

Chlorphenesin

Phenolic antimicrobial; strict EU limits apply, potential allergen, careful dosing required for leave-on products.

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

Fragrance

Fragrance; concentration must control allergen risk, label specific components

Linalool

Natural fragrance component at ≤0.05%; one of EU 26 allergens, caution for sensitive skin

Titanium Dioxide

Physical UV filter and colorant up to 25%; nano form requires attention

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