Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Dermax Professional AcneX Retinol Serum Versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment

Dermax Professional AcneX Retinol Serum Versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment Detailed comparison of Dermax Professional AcneX Retinol Serum versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US. This acne treatment is formulated around Retinol and Sodium Ascorby

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Dermax Professional AcneX Retinol Serum Versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment Detailed comparison of Dermax Professional AcneX Retinol Serum versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US. This acne treatment is formulated around Retinol and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate to clear breakouts and refine skin texture. This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Retinol and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. Water Glycerin Propylene Glycol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine Alcohol Retinol Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil Brassica Campestris Sterols PEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol Ceteth-3 Ceteth-5 Cholesterol Silica Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate Cetyl Phosphate 1,2-Hexanediol Polysorbate 20 Disodium EDTA Paraffinum Liquidum Butylene Glycol Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate Phenyl Trimethicone Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate Hexyl Laurate 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid Hydrogenated Lecithin Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate Tocopheryl Acetate Centella Asiatica Extract Ethylhexylglycerin Dimethicone PEG-100 Stearate Glyceryl Stearate Dipropylene Glycol Cetyl Alcohol Sodium Hyaluronate Triethanolamine Salicylic Acid Phenoxyethanol Carbomer Stearic Acid Cera Alba BHT Parfum Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Alcohol, Retinol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Brassica Campestris Sterols, PEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol, Ceteth-3, Ceteth-5, Cholesterol, Silica, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Cetyl Phosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA, Paraffinum Liquidum, Butylene Glycol, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Hexyl Laurate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Triethanolamine, Salicylic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Stearic Acid, Cera Alba, BHT, Parfum Isononyl Isononanoate Castor Isostearate Succinate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Dimethicone Crosspolymer PEG-33 Behenyl Alcohol Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate Polymethylsilsesquioxane Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Ceramide Ng Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Arctium Lappa Seed Oil Salix Alba Extract Glycine Soja Sterols Lecithin Allantoin Hydrolyzed Soy Protein Sorbitan Laurate Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester Hydroxyethylcellulose Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Sodium Hydroxide Tribehenin Caprylyl Glycol Pentylene Glycol PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer PEG-10 Phytosterol PEG-8 Dimethicone PEG-14 Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Arachidyl Glucoside Arachidyl Alcohol Sclerotium Gum Benzoic Acid Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Castor Isostearate Succinate, Glyceryl Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-33, Polysorbate 20, Behenyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Retinol, Ceramide Ng, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Arctium Lappa Seed Oil, Salix Alba Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, Lecithin, Allantoin, Tocopheryl A Be the first to review These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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. Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture. Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%. It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier. Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%. A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions. 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. Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air. This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with: On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it. One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin). Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption. You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%. Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that: The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of an