Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Gloss Balm Versus Revision Skincare Youthfull Lip Replenisher

Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Gloss Balm Versus Revision Skincare Youthfull Lip Replenisher

This anti-aging lip moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate lips.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Polybutene

Diisostearyl Malate

Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2

Glyceryl Behenate

Synthetic Beeswax

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate

Ethylhexyl Palmitate

Ricinus Communis Seed Oil

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38

Tridecapeptide-1

Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract

Portulaca Pilosa Extract

Pentylene Glycol

Prunus Domestica Seed Oil

Water

Sodium Hyaluronate

Tribehenin

Sorbitan Isostearate

Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Lactic Acid

Tocopherol

Sucrose Cocoate

Vanillin

CI 15850

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polybutene, Diisostearyl Malate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Glyceryl Behenate, Synthetic Beeswax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Tridecapeptide-1, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tribehenin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol, Sucrose Cocoate, Vanillin, CI 15850

Jojoba Esters

Phenyl Trimethicone

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Tocopheryl Acetate

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline

Butylene Glycol

Silica Dimethyl Silylate

Glyceryl Caprylate

Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Jojoba Esters, Phenyl Trimethicone, Tribehenin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sucrose Cocoate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil

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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.

This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.

Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).

Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.

Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.

While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.

This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.

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%.

Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate is derived from cetearyl alcohol and sorbic acid.

It is an emollient and helps hydrate the skin. Emollients form a barrier on the skin to prevent water from escaping.

Ethylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.

In cosmetics, it plays many roles:

One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.

For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.

This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is an ester of palmitic acid, a C16 fatty acid that falls within the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer. Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient and texture enhancer.

In one study, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene showed better skin hydration levels than Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. As an emollient, it helps keep your skin soft and hydrated by trapping moisture in.

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is often used as a mineral oil replacement.

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 (aka Pal-GHK) is a synthetic signal peptide made of three amino acids attached to palmitic acid.

That fatty acid attachment is the key: it boosts the peptide's ability to penetrate the skin barrier. This puts it closer to the dermal cells where it can actually make a difference.

Once there, it acts as a matrikine, a signaling peptide that prompts fibroblasts to produce more collagen, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.

In vitro studies show it can boost collagen production in skin cells even when UV-damaged skin samples were treated with it at a tiny concentration (it almost fully restored dermal collagen at 5ppm). It achieved this at 100x lower concentration than retinoic acid, which needed 500 ppm to do the same thing.

Human clinical data is promising, but modest:

A study of 23 female volunteers found a small but statistically significant increase (~4%) in skin thickness after treatment at 4 ppm.

A separate small trial of 15 women showed statistically significant reductions in wrinkle length, depth, and skin roughness after applying it twice daily for four weeks.

You'll likely see Pal-GHK paired with Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 as part of the Matrixyl 3000 complex.

Fungal acne note: Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.

This synthetic, signal peptide has unique skin conditioning properties in that is a matrikine-mimetic compound.

First of all, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 is a signal peptide; signal peptides tell the body to create more collagen.

What is a matrikine-mimetic compound?

This peptide has the ability to mimic matrikines in skin. Our skin created matrikines by breaking down matrix proteins into peptides.

Matrikines play a role in:

Though further research is needed, this ingredient seems pretty promising. In one study, women over the age of 40 with visible photoaging used a vitamin C serum with this ingredient for 56 days (15% ascorbid acid, 5 ppm palmitoyl tripeptide‐38). The results found improvement in skin roughness and skin tone.

This peptide is also part of the famous Matrixyl synthe’6, a blend of ingredients that also includes glycerin, water, and hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin.

We don't have a description for Portulaca Pilosa Extract yet.

Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.

In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.

Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:

Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.

Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.

You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.

Sorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.

As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.

In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.

Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.

Sucrose cocoate is a mild multitasking ingredient made by esterifying sugar with the fatty acids of coconut oil.

It functions as a surfactant, emulsifier, and skin-conditioning ingredient all in one.

Typical use concentrations range from:

This ingredient is well-tolerated across skin types and has been classified safe for use in cosmetic products by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. It's even considered gentle enough for use in baby care products like shampoos and lotions.

Fungal acne note: Sucrose cocoate is a fatty acid ester derived from coconut oil that contains fatty acids in the C12-18 range. This is the range that Malassezia can metabolize, meaning this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.

Tribehenin is the triglyceride of glycerin and behenic acid. It is an emollient that helps soften and condition skin.

Safety-wise, this is a well-vetted ingredient. Repeated-insult patch tests of 0.38% tribehenin did not trigger sensitization.

This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because behenic acid falls into the chain-length range that Malassezia yeasts can feed on.

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