Clinique Even Better Clinical™ Radical Dark Spot Corrector + Interrupter Versus Paula's Choice Resist Super Antioxidant Serum

Clinique Even Better Clinical™ Radical Dark Spot Corrector + Interrupter Versus Paula's Choice Resist Super Antioxidant Serum

This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside and Salicylic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 to soften the look of wrinkles and brighten dull-looking skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Cyclopentasiloxane

Dimethicone

Polysilicone-11

Isododecane

Butylene Glycol

Ascorbyl Glucoside

PEG-10 Dimethicone

PEG-6

Morus Bombycis Root Extract

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract

Saccharomyces Lysate Extract

Hordeum Vulgare Extract

Salicylic Acid

Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract

Cholesterol

Oryza Sativa Bran Extract

Squalane

Acetyl Glucosamine

Sodium Hyaluronate

Caffeine

Isohexadecane

Betula Alba Bark Extract

Trametes Versicolor Extract

Sodium Rna

Glycyrrhetinic Acid

Dimethoxytolyl Propylresorcinol

Di-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride

Helianthus Annuus Seedcake

Faex Extract

Caprylyl Glycol

Propylene Glycol Dicaprate

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer

Polysorbate 20

Tocopheryl Acetate

Polysorbate 80

Tromethamine

Sodium Hydroxide

Hexylene Glycol

Disodium EDTA

Sodium Benzoate

Sodium Metabisulfite

Sodium Sulfite

Phenoxyethanol

CI 15985

CI 19140

Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, PEG-10 Dimethicone, PEG-6, Morus Bombycis Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Salicylic Acid, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Cholesterol, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Squalane, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Isohexadecane, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Trametes Versicolor Extract, Sodium Rna, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Dimethoxytolyl Propylresorcinol, Di-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Faex Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 80, Tromethamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Sulfite, Phenoxyethanol, CI 15985, CI 19140

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Ceramide NP

Tocotrienols

Tocopherol

Ubiquinone

Thioctic Acid

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Ferulic Acid

Beta-Glucan

Superoxide Dismutase

Epigallocatechin Gallate

Ergothioneine

Glutathione

Xanthophylls

Glycine Soja Seed Extract

Glycerin

Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract

Lupinus Albus Seed Extract

Curcuma Longa Root

Elaeis Guineensis Oil

Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ceramide NP, Tocotrienols, Tocopherol, Ubiquinone, Thioctic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ferulic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Superoxide Dismutase, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Ergothioneine, Glutathione, Xanthophylls, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Glycerin, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Curcuma Longa Root, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Phenoxyethanol

Reviews

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.

Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.

The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics

There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.

Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.

The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.

Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.

What it does:

Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:

Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.

Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.

This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.

Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.

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.

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%.

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