Skin science article
Paula's Choice Resist Ultra-Light Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum Versus Wander Beauty Fast Lane Instant Facial
Paula's Choice Resist Ultra-Light Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum Versus Wander Beauty Fast Lane Instant Facial This anti-aging serum is formulated around Resveratrol and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and calm redness. This wash off mask is fo
Paula's Choice Resist Ultra-Light Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum Versus Wander Beauty Fast Lane Instant Facial
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Resveratrol and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and calm redness.
This wash off mask is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and unclog pores.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Cyclopentasiloxane
Butylene Glycol
Dimethicone
Glycerin
Polysorbate 20
Polysilicone-11
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Hyaluronic Acid
Resveratrol
Niacinamide
Quercetin
Adenosine
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Tocopherol
Phospholipids
Ubiquinone
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Sea Whip Extract
Bisabolol
Beta-Glucan
Phytic Acid
Xanthan Gum
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Sodium Hydroxide
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Phenoxyethanol
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Polysilicone-11, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Hyaluronic Acid, Resveratrol, Niacinamide, Quercetin, Adenosine, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Phospholipids, Ubiquinone, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Sea Whip Extract, Bisabolol, Beta-Glucan, Phytic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Glycolic Acid
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Salicylic Acid
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
1,2-Hexanediol
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Allantoin
Charcoal Powder
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Lactic Acid
Citric Acid
Sorbitan Stearate
Caprylyl Glycol
Polysorbate 60
Water, Glycolic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Charcoal Powder, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Sorbitan Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 60
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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
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!