Paula's Choice Defense Nightly Reconditioning Moisturizer Versus Dermalogica Pure Night Powerbright

Paula's Choice Defense Nightly Reconditioning Moisturizer Versus Dermalogica Pure Night Powerbright

This barrier-repair night moisturizer is formulated around Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 and Ceramide Ng to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.

This brightening night moisturizer is formulated around Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Niacinamide to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Ethylhexyl Palmitate

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Isoamyl Laurate

Prunus Serotina Fruit Extract

Almond/Borage/Linseed/Olive Acids/Glycerides

Medicago Sativa Extract

Sesamum Indicum Seed

Hydrolyzed Eruca Sativa Leaf

Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil

Hydrolyzed Algae Extract

Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12

Palmitoyl Dipeptide-10

Sodium Hyaluronate

Ceramide Ng

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Cocoyl Proline

Tocopherol

Allantoin

Trehalose

Eclipta Prostrata Extract

Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate

Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil

Alaria Esculenta Extract

Adenosine Phosphate

PEG-10 Phytosterol

Tribehenin

Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein

Sorbitan Olivate

Sodium Gluconate

Zinc Gluconate

Copper Gluconate

Magnesium Aspartate

Cetearyl Olivate

Isoamyl Cocoate

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate/Caprate

Microcrystalline Cellulose

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

Xanthan Gum

Pentylene Glycol

Butylene Glycol Stearate

Phenoxyethanol

Potassium Sorbate

Ethylhexylglycerin

Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isoamyl Laurate, Prunus Serotina Fruit Extract, Almond/Borage/Linseed/Olive Acids/Glycerides, Medicago Sativa Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed, Hydrolyzed Eruca Sativa Leaf, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Algae Extract, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-10, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide Ng, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cocoyl Proline, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Trehalose, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Adenosine Phosphate, PEG-10 Phytosterol, Tribehenin, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Magnesium Aspartate, Cetearyl Olivate, Isoamyl Cocoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate/Caprate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin

Cyclopentasiloxane

Methylheptyl Isostearate

Butylene Glycol

Dimethicone

Cetyl Alcohol

Isohexadecane

Cetearyl Alcohol

Glyceryl Stearate Citrate

Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate

Cetyl Caprylate

Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil

Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil

Vigna Aconitifolia Seed Extract

Strelitzia Nicolai Seed Aril Extract

Oligopeptide-34

Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Niacinamide

Cananga Odorata Flower Oil

Beta-Sitosterol

Zinc Glycinate

Decyl Glucoside

Polysilicone-11

Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Glyceryl Caprylate

Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Dimethiconol

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Aminomethyl Propanol

Disodium EDTA

Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methylheptyl Isostearate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetyl Caprylate, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Vigna Aconitifolia Seed Extract, Strelitzia Nicolai Seed Aril Extract, Oligopeptide-34, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Tocopherol, Beta-Sitosterol, Zinc Glycinate, Decyl Glucoside, Polysilicone-11, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

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.

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.

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!

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