Paula's Choice Shine Stopper Instant Matte Finish with Microsponge Technology Versus Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Instant Perfector

Paula's Choice Shine Stopper Instant Matte Finish with Microsponge Technology Versus Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Instant Perfector

What's inside

Key Ingredients

No key ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Methyl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Dimethicone

Cetearyl Alcohol

Glycerin

PEG-100 Stearate

Magnesium Aluminum Silicate

Glyceryl Stearate

Myristyl Myristate

Ceteareth-20

Xanthan Gum

Disodium EDTA

Benzyl Alcohol

Phenoxyethanol

Water, Methyl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, PEG-100 Stearate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Glyceryl Stearate, Myristyl Myristate, Ceteareth-20, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol

Cyclopentasiloxane

Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer

Silica

Isononyl Isononanoate

Isododecane

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer

Polymethyl Methacrylate

Lauroyl Lysine

Hydrolyzed Soy Protein

Ethylhexylglycerin

Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate

Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate

Methicone

Tocopheryl Acetate

Coconut Acid

Mica

CI 77891

CI 77492

CI 77491

CI 77499

CI 75470

Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Silica, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isododecane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Lauroyl Lysine, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Methicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coconut Acid, Water, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499, CI 75470

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

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.

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.

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!

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