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Paula's Choice 7% Ectoin Booster Versus Bellflower Ectoin 3% Serum

Paula's Choice 7% Ectoin Booster Versus Bellflower Ectoin 3% Serum This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Ectoin and Squalane to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness. This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Ectoin to strengthen the skin

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

Paula's Choice 7% Ectoin Booster Versus Bellflower Ectoin 3% Serum

This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Ectoin and Squalane to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.

This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Ectoin to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Ectoin

Isopentyldiol

Triethylhexanoin

Diisopropyl Adipate

Isoamyl Laurate

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Undecane

Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate

Squalane

Tridecane

Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate

Polyhydroxystearic Acid

1,2-Hexanediol

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Sodium Hyaluronate

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Tocopherol

Hydroxyacetophenone

Glycogen

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables

Sodium Phytate

Citric Acid

Stearalkonium Hectorite

Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate

Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate

Water, Ectoin, Isopentyldiol, Triethylhexanoin, Diisopropyl Adipate, Isoamyl Laurate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Undecane, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Squalane, Tridecane, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycogen, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate

Dipropylene Glycol

Glycerin

Carbomer

Tromethamine

Ethylhexylglycerin

Disodium EDTA

Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ectoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA

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.

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.

It is a:

Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin

Emollient, helping to soften skin

Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas

Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives

Ectoin is a compound found naturally in some species of bacteria. It can be synthetically created for skincare use.

This ingredient is an osmolyte; Osmolytes help organisms survive osmotic shock (it protects them from extreme conditions). It does this by influencing the properties of biological fluids within cells.

When applied to the skin, ectoin helps bind water molecules to protect our skin. The water forms a sort of armor for the parts of our skin cells, enzymes, proteins, and more.

Besides this, ectoin has many uses in skincare:

A study from 2004 found ectoin to counteract the damage from UV-A exposure at different cell levels. It has also been shown to protect skin against both UV-A, UV-B rays, infrared light, and visible light.

Studies show ectoin to have dual-action pollution protection: first, it protects our skin from further pollution damage. Second, it helps repair damage from pollution.

In fact, ectoin has been shown to help with:

Fun fact: In the EU, ectoin is used in inhalation medication as an anti-pollution ingredient.

Ectoin is a highly stable ingredient. It has a wide pH range of 1-9. Light, oxygen, and temperature do not affect this ingredient.

The chemical name for this ingredient is Tetrahydromethylpyrimidine Carboxylic Acid.

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

The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

Connected source records selected through this article’s public topic index.

01

Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

Ingredient index

Ingredients Explained

  1. 01These ingredients are found in both products.
  2. 02Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
  3. 03Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
  4. 04Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
  5. 05Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
  6. 06One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
  7. 07While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
  8. 08The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% be…
  9. 09Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
  10. 10Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at…
  11. 11Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
  12. 12Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
  13. 13Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
  14. 14Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
  15. 15Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
  16. 16Glutathione is a tiny protein-like molecule (a "tripeptide" build from 3 amino acids: glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid) that your body already makes on its own.
  17. 17Inside your body, it acts as one of the skin's main antioxidants that help fight against free radicals.
  18. 18In skincare, it's best known as a brightening ingredient that slows down tyrosinase, the key enzyme that makes skin pigment. It also nudges the skin toward making a lighter type of pigment instead of a darker one.
  19. 19This is why you'll see it in products aimed at dark spots and uneven tone.
  20. 20A small number of real human trials have found a topical glutathione lotion:
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
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