Two Poles Cica Face Cream Versus Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer

Two Poles Cica Face Cream Versus Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer

This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Centella Asiatica Extract to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.

This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Squalane to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Dimethicone

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Niacinamide

Propanediol

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

Glyceryl Stearate Se

Olea Europaea Fruit Oil

Centella Asiatica Extract

Ceramide NP

Ceramide AP

Panthenol

Sh-Oligopeptide-1

Sh-Oligopeptide-2

Sh-Polypeptide-1

Sh-Polypeptide-11

Sh-Polypeptide-9

Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide

Sodium Hyaluronate

Bisabolol

Allantoin

Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Butylene Glycol

Cholesterol

Disodium Cetearyl Sulfosuccinate

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Caprylyl Glycol

Propylene Glycol

Citric Acid

Tetraacetylphytosphingosine

Potassium Sorbate

Glycosphingolipids

1,2-Hexanediol

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Stearic Acid

Xanthan Gum

Sodium Benzoate

Acetyl Glutamine

Lecithin

Sodium Levulinate

Cetearyl Alcohol

Glyceryl Stearate

Parfum

Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Panthenol, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Cholesterol, Disodium Cetearyl Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Tetraacetylphytosphingosine, Potassium Sorbate, Glycosphingolipids, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Stearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Acetyl Glutamine, Lecithin, Sodium Levulinate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Parfum

Squalane

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Pentylene 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

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

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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.

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

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.

Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:

Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.

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.

Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.

Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:

It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.

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!

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