Skin science article
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum Versus Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Serum Concentrate
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum Versus Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Serum Concentrate This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Linoleic Acid and Linolenic Acid to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. This barrier-repair serum is formulat
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum Versus Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Serum Concentrate
This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Linoleic Acid and Linolenic Acid to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Trehalose to strengthen the skin barrier and soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Glycerin
Diheptyl Succinate
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Linoleic Acid
Linolenic Acid
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Ceramide EOP
Ceramide Eos
Ceramide NP
Ceramide Ns
Caprooyl Sphingosine
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Caprooyl Phytosphingosine
Sodium Hyaluronate
Cholesterol
Ceramide AP
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables
Tocopherol
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Prunus Domestica Seed Oil
Lauryl Laurate
Glyceryl Behenate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Sodium Phytate
Trehalose
Isohexadecane
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
Cetyl Alcohol
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Agar
Glyceryl Stearate
Ceteareth-25
Cetearyl Alcohol
Behenic Acid
Glyceryl Rosinate
Citric Acid
Benzyl Alcohol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Water, Glycerin, Diheptyl Succinate, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Ceramide AP, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Lauryl Laurate, Glyceryl Behenate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Phytate, Trehalose, Isohexadecane, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Agar, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteareth-25, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenic Acid, Glyceryl Rosinate, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Alcohol Denat.
Butylene Glycol
PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Triethylhexanoin
Cyclohexasiloxane
Dimethicone
Phenoxyethanol
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
PEG-14m
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Parfum
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Hydroxide
Silica
Isoceteth-10
Linalool
Lauryl Betaine
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Geraniol
Citronellol
Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract
Nelumbo Nucifera Germ Extract
Alcohol
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
BHT
Thymus Serpyllum Extract
Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
Sodium Bicarbonate
Iris Florentina Root Extract
Sodium Benzoate
Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Water, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Triethylhexanoin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Trehalose, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-14m, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Hydroxide, Silica, Isoceteth-10, Linalool, Lauryl Betaine, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Geraniol, Citronellol, Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Germ Extract, Alcohol, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, BHT, Thymus Serpyllum Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Sodium Bicarbonate, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
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.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Trehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
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!