DRMTLGY Retinol Complex 0.5% Versus Paula's Choice Pro Retinaldehyde Dual-Retinoid Treatment

DRMTLGY Retinol Complex 0.5% Versus Paula's Choice Pro Retinaldehyde Dual-Retinoid Treatment

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Sodium Ascorbate and Tocopherol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.

This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Retinal and Oleyl Adapalenate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Cyclopentasiloxane

Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Dimethiconol

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Sodium Ascorbate

Tocopherol

Retinol

Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Retinol

Water

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Dimethicone

Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate

Propanediol

Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Retinal

Oleyl Adapalenate

Tocopheryl Acetate

Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate

Albatrellus Confluens Extract

Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract

Glyceryl Stearate

Stearyl Alcohol

Hydroxyapatite

Butylene Glycol

Cetyl Glyceryl Ether

Ricinus Communis Seed Oil

Sodium Polyacrylate

Isopropyl Myristate

Hydroxyacetophenone

Caprylhydroxamic Acid

Sodium Phytate

Xanthan Gum

Glycerin

Hydroxystearic Acid

Ceramide AP

1,2-Hexanediol

Sorbitan Oleate

Naringin

Citric Acid

Titanium Dioxide

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Retinal, Oleyl Adapalenate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Albatrellus Confluens Extract, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyapatite, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Glyceryl Ether, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, Isopropyl Myristate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Hydroxystearic Acid, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Oleate, Naringin, Citric Acid, Titanium Dioxide

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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.

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.

Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.

In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.

While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.

Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.

This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.

This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.

Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.

You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.

Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.

It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.

This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.

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.

In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.

Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.

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