Skin science article
Paula's Choice Resist Super Antioxidant Serum Versus The INKEY List 15% Vitamin C And EGF Serum
Paula's Choice Resist Super Antioxidant Serum Versus The INKEY List 15% Vitamin C And EGF Serum This anti-aging serum is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 to soften the look of wrinkles and brighten dull-looking skin. This
Paula's Choice Resist Super Antioxidant Serum Versus The INKEY List 15% Vitamin C And EGF Serum
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 to soften the look of wrinkles and brighten dull-looking skin.
This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cyclopentasiloxane
Dimethicone
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Ceramide NP
Tocotrienols
Tocopherol
Ubiquinone
Thioctic Acid
Tocopheryl Acetate
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Ferulic Acid
Beta-Glucan
Superoxide Dismutase
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Ergothioneine
Glutathione
Xanthophylls
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Glycerin
Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Lupinus Albus Seed Extract
Curcuma Longa Root
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Phenoxyethanol
Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ceramide NP, Tocotrienols, Tocopherol, Ubiquinone, Thioctic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ferulic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Superoxide Dismutase, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Ergothioneine, Glutathione, Xanthophylls, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Glycerin, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Curcuma Longa Root, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Sodium Hydroxide
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Benzyl Alcohol
Butylene Glycol
Xanthan Gum
Ethylhexylglycerin
Sodium Metabisulfite
Dehydroacetic Acid
Phytic Acid
Oligopeptide-1
Water, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hydroxide, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Metabisulfite, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phytic Acid, Oligopeptide-1
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.
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.