Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum Versus L'Oreal Revitalift 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum Versus L'Oreal Revitalift 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinol and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.

This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate to hydrate skin and soften the look of wrinkles.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Cyclopentasiloxane

Isododecane

Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate

Cyclohexasiloxane

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Tocopheryl Acetate

Retinyl Palmitate

Retinol

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Astaxanthin

Bisabolol

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Salix Alba Bark Extract

Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract

Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract

Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract

Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract

Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract

Betula Alba Bark Extract

Glycine Soja Oil

Silica

Phenoxyethanol

Cyclopentasiloxane, Isododecane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Retinol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Astaxanthin, Bisabolol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Silica, Phenoxyethanol

Water

Glycerin

Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid

Sodium Hyaluronate

PEG-60

Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Secale Cereale Seed Extract

Calcium Pantothenate

Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Disodium EDTA

Pentylene Glycol

Chlorphenesin

Water, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-60, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Calcium Pantothenate, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

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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.

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.

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