Ingredient or product comparison
Balea Beauty Expert Calming Serum Versus Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum
Balea Beauty Expert Calming Serum Versus Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum Detailed comparison of Balea Beauty Expert Calming Serum versus Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum. This calming serum is formulated around Linoleic Acid and Phospholipids to calm re
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Balea Beauty Expert Calming Serum Versus Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum Detailed comparison of Balea Beauty Expert Calming Serum versus Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum. This calming serum is formulated around Linoleic Acid and Phospholipids to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier. This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Linoleic Acid and Linolenic Acid to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. Water Dicaprylyl Carbonate Linoleic Acid Glycerin Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil Inulin Phenoxyethanol Sclerotium Gum Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide Stearyl Alcohol Phospholipids Sodium Benzoate Xanthan Gum Potassium Cetyl Phosphate Ceramide NP Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate Cetearyl Alcohol Linolenic Acid Ethylhexylglycerin Ceramide Ng Citric Acid Tocopherol Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Linoleic Acid, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Inulin, Phenoxyethanol, Sclerotium Gum, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Stearyl Alcohol, Phospholipids, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Linolenic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide Ng, Citric Acid, Tocopherol Diheptyl Succinate Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil Ceramide EOP Ceramide Eos Ceramide Ns Caprooyl Sphingosine Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables Caprooyl Phytosphingosine Sodium Hyaluronate Cholesterol Ceramide AP Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Prunus Domestica Seed Oil Lauryl Laurate Glyceryl Behenate Hydrogenated Lecithin Sodium Phytate Trehalose Isohexadecane Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer Cetyl Alcohol Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Agar Glyceryl Stearate Ceteareth-25 Behenic Acid Glyceryl Rosinate Benzyl Alcohol Water, Glycerin, Diheptyl Succinate, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Ceramide AP, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Lauryl Laurate, Glyceryl Behenate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Phytate, Trehalose, Isohexadecane, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Agar, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteareth-25, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenic Acid, Glyceryl Rosinate, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Ceramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids. Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes. This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants. A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%. Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days. Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient. Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically. Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier. Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient. It plays several roles in a formula: Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products. Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people. However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers. Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy. Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans. Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients. This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize. A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe. Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes. Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps rev