Last Updated on December 14, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
- Is rosehip oil better than marula oil?
- Is lactic acid better than glycolic acid?
- Is seaweed better than green tea?
I could go on and on. But you get the gist. I get asked what makes one skincare ingredient better than another all the time. It’s a question that’s impossible to answer. You know why? Because “better than” doesn’t mean anything. Or better yet, it means whatever you want it to mean. If you’re into natural skincare, you believe than plant extracts are better than anything made in a lab – no matter how many studies proving the opposite I show you.
If you’ve got oily skin, you’ll think hyaluronic acid is a better moisturiser than coconut oil because it doesn’t break you out – and yet, for someone else, coconut oil is the best moisturiser ever. If you’re looking for instant results, you’ll think silicones are better than retinol because they reduce the look of your wrinkles straight away and without the irritation – even though once you wash them off, your wrinkles are still as deep a before.
In other words, what makes a skincare ingredient better than another is the wrong question to ask. The right one is, “What skincare ingredient is better for YOUR unique skin type and needs?” The answer depends on a mix of science and personal preference:
Effectiveness
The main criteria I use when deciding what skincare products to buy is effectiveness. Does the ingredient do what you want it to do and are there studies to prove it? Let’s say you want to reduce wrinkles. Retinol is your best bet. There are thousands of studies showing it can slowly fade away wrinkles. It works by boosting collagen, fighting free radicals and speeding up the skin’s natural exfoliating process.
But silicones reduce wrinkles, too, in their own way. They work by falling into your fine lines, filling them in so they look smaller. Unlike retinol, their effect is only temporary. So, which one is better: retinol or silicones? You could argue that retinol is the better one because it works long-term, but the answer isn’t so clear cut.
If you’re looking for a quick fix for your friend’s wedding, retinol won’t cut it. If you expect silicones to fade away your wrinkles for good, you’ll be disappointed. Instead than comparing ingredients, ask yourself what results you want to achieve? Then, look for ingredients that can deliver that. P.S. I personally believe that reducing wrinkles for good is better than masking them. But I know that takes time. So, I use both.
Related: The Complete Guide To Retinol: What It Is, What It Does & How To Use It
Don’t know which skincare products you can mix and match together and which ones deactivate each other? Download your FREE “How To Layer Actives Like A Pro” cheat sheet to get the most out of your skincare products:
Skin Type
Just because a skincare ingredients can do something, it doesn’t mean it’s right for your skin type. Exfoliating acids are the perfect example here. Both glycolic acid and lactic acid dissolve the glue that holds skin cells together, so they can slough off and reveal the brighter and smoother skin underneath. Glycolic acid is a smaller molecule, meaning it does the exfoliating job better and faster than lactic acid. It follow that glycolic acid is better than lactic acid, right?
Not so fast. Glycolic acid may be more effective, but it’s also harsher. If you’ve got sensitive skin, it can irritate it real bad. How does that make glycolic acid better?! It’s not just how well an ingredient performs. It’s how well your skin can tolerate it. Some ingredients are too harsh or comedogenic for certain skin types. Get to know yours, so you can avoid what it doesn’t like.
Related: How To Figure Out Your Skin Type (+ Free Test!)
Price
If it’s expensive it’s better, right? Case in point, mineral oil vs Argan oil. Argan oil is rare because it’s extremely expensive and time-consuming to produce. The price reflects that. Mineral oil, on the other hand, is derived from petroleum. Even though it undergoes a strict purifying process to remove all toxic impurities, it’s still super cheap to produce. That’s why you’ll find mineral oil instead than Argan oil in most moisturisers at the drugstore. But is one really better than the other?
If you’re on a budget and in need of a moisturizer for your dry skin, mineral oil will do the job just fine. Heck, it’s one of the most moisturizing substances on this planet! If you can afford to splurge on a bottle of pure argan oil, go ahead. But don’t fool yourself – you’ll get the same results. Expensive doesn’t equal better. Cheap ingredients can perform wonders, too.
Related: Are Drusgtore Skincare Products As Effective As High-End Products?
Personal Preference
Sometimes, which skincare ingredient is better than another simply comes down to personal preference. Maybe you don’t want to use ingredients that are derived from animals. Or you’re trying to be more eco-conscious and prefer to stick to natural ingredients. Or you simply may find certain oils and waxes too greasy for your tastes.
That’s totally fine. You shouldn’t compromise your values and preferences to take proper care of your skin. But that doesn’t mean the ingredients you like to use are better than the ones you avoid – they’re just better for YOU.
Related: 5 Myths About Skincare Products You Need To Stop Believing Right Now
FAQs
Can I use both ingredients instead of choosing one?
Most of the time yes. Your face can handle retinol in the evening AND vitamin C in the morning. Niacinamide AND hyaluronic acid. Hell, throw in some peptides too if you want. The only question is whether you actually need both. If they’re doing the same job, you’re just wasting money. But if they tackle different problems or play nice together? Go wild. Just don’t dump everything on your face at once like a skincare smoothie. Add them one at a time so if something goes wrong, you know who to blame.
How do I know if an ingredient “works” for my skin?
Time. That’s it. Most actives need a good 6-8 weeks before they do anything you can actually see. Moisturizers work faster – you’ll know within a few days if your skin feels better. If you’re breaking out, turning red, or your face feels like it’s staging a protest, that’s not “purging” or “adjustment.” That’s your skin telling you to stop using that ingredient. Listen to it. If nothing’s happening after two months? Either it’s not strong enough or you picked the wrong thing for your problem. Move on. Life’s too short to waste on ingredients that don’t deliver.
Should I trust influencer recommendations about which ingredients are better?
It depends on the influencer. Are they accepting payments to promote products? If so, are they disclosing it? Are they basing their opinions on science or are they just telling that everything is amazing (cos they’re getting paid to)? Are they sharing their skin type and needs and telling you who the product will and won’t work for? Some influencers, like Michelle from LabMuffin, are amazing and 100% trustworthy. But most of them, well… all I’m saying is, research the influencer carefully before trusting a recommendation.
Are “natural” ingredients always safer than synthetic ones?
No. Poison ivy is natural. Mercury is natural. Arsenic is natural. Lab-made ingredients are controlled, tested, and consistent. Natural ingredients? The potency varies depending on where they grew, when they were harvested, how they were processed. And plenty of people are allergic to natural stuff – ever had hay fever? An ingredient is safe or not based on what it actually does to your skin, not whether it came from a plant or a beaker.
If an expensive ingredient and cheap one do the same thing, why does the expensive one cost more?
Because someone decided you’d pay more for it. That’s literally it most of the time. Sure, sometimes the expensive version uses a fancier extraction process or a higher concentration. Sometimes the ingredient actually is rare and costs more to produce. But a lot of times you’re paying for the pretty jar, the celebrity face on the ad, the “luxury experience,” and the brand name you recognize. If the drugstore version has the same active ingredient at the same percentage and your skin’s happy with it, buy that. Spend the money you saved on something useful, like more sunscreen or a vacation.
How long should I try an ingredient before deciding it’s not “better” for me?
- Actives like retinol, vitamin C, acids? Give them 8-12 weeks. They’re slow workers.
- Moisturizers? You’ll know in a few days whether your skin feels better or not.
- Treatments for acne, dark spots, whatever? At least a month, maybe two.
But here’s the thing – if your skin’s freaking out with redness, burning, or breakouts, don’t be a martyr. Stop using it now. That’s not your skin “getting used to it.” That’s your skin screaming at you to cut it out. If you’ve given something a fair shot and you’re just not seeing results, that ingredient’s not better for you. Try something else and stop wasting your time.
What Makes One Skincare Ingredient Better Than Another?
So, how do you figure out which skincare ingredients are better for your own needs? Here’s a quick checklist:
- Effectiveness: Does the ingredient does what you want it to do and are there studies to prove it?
- Skin type: Is this ingredient suitable for your skin type?
- Price: Is this ingredient affordable or should you look for a cheaper alternative that works just as well?
- Personal preference: Do I feel good about using this ingredient?
If you can say yes to all these questions, that skincare ingredient is better than another. FOR YOU.
Thank you for this article. I have fallen victim to asking the wrong question and trying products without really thinking about whether they suit my skin in the first place. It took me a long time before I asked the questions – what kind of skin do I have, what are my skin needs, what problems do I want to address, and what ingredients cause me problems.
GREAT article. As always.