Skin science article
Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer Versus Dermalogica MultiVitamin Power Recovery Mask
Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer Versus Dermalogica MultiVitamin Power Recovery Mask This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Squalane to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin. This wash off mask is made with Panthenol an
Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer Versus Dermalogica MultiVitamin Power Recovery Mask
This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Squalane to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
This wash off mask is made with Panthenol and Tocopheryl Acetate for a rinse-off barrier-support boost.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Dimethicone
Squalane
Glycerin
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Pentylene Glycol
1,2-Hexanediol
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
Hydroxyacetophenone
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Gigartina Stellata Extract
Acetyl Sh-Hexapeptide-5 Amide Acetate
Tridecapeptide-1
Oligopeptide-1
Sodium Phytate
Propanediol
Lecithin
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Cyanocobalamin
Phenoxyethanol
Water, Dimethicone, Squalane, Glycerin, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Gigartina Stellata Extract, Acetyl Sh-Hexapeptide-5 Amide Acetate, Tridecapeptide-1, Oligopeptide-1, Sodium Phytate, Propanediol, Lecithin, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Cyanocobalamin, Phenoxyethanol
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Di-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate
Glycereth-7 Triacetate
Panthenol
Tocopheryl Acetate
Glyceryl Stearate
PEG-100 Stearate
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Dipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Stearyl Alcohol
Sorbitan Stearate
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Lactic Acid
Retinyl Palmitate
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Chondrus Crispus
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Glycine Soja Oil
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Arctium Majus Root Extract
Symphytum Officinale Root Extract
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Zea Mays Oil
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Vegetable Oil
Sodium PCA
Linoleic Acid
Beta-Glucan
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Caprylyl Glycol
Phospholipids
Beta-Carotene
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Tocopherol
Sodium Polyacrylate
Sclerotium Gum
Decylene Glycol
Propylene Glycol
Sodium Lactate
Allantoin
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether Benzoate
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
Polysorbate 20
Sorbic Acid
Aminomethyl Propanol
Potassium Hydroxide
Carbomer
Menthoxypropanediol
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Sodium Benzoate
Chlorphenesin
Sodium Dehydroacetate
BHT
Potassium Sorbate
CI 75120
Water, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Di-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate, Glycereth-7 Triacetate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Dipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Stearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Lactic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Chondrus Crispus, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Symphytum Officinale Root Extract, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Zea Mays Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Vegetable Oil, Sodium PCA, Dimethicone, Linoleic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Caprylyl Glycol, Phospholipids, Beta-Carotene, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sclerotium Gum, Decylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lactate, Allantoin, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polysorbate 20, Sorbic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Menthoxypropanediol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Dehydroacetate, BHT, Potassium Sorbate, CI 75120
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
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
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.
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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
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!