First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer Versus Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer Versus Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer Detailed comparison of First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer versus Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Avena Sativa Kernel Flour and Squalane to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Butyrospermum Parkii Butter and Linoleic Acid to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. Water Glyceryl Stearate Se Glycerin Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Dimethicone Urea Cetyl Alcohol Avena Sativa Kernel Flour Squalane Caprylyl Glycol Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Allantoin Persea Gratissima Oil N-Butyl Alcohol Carbomer Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Sodium Hydroxide Ceramide NP Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate Phenoxyethanol Tetrasodium EDTA Water, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Urea, Cetyl Alcohol, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Allantoin, Persea Gratissima Oil, N-Butyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Ceramide NP, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Tetrasodium EDTA Ceteareth-6 Olivate Butylene Glycol C13-15 Alkane Glyceryl Stearate Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate Decyl Oleate Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil Olea Europaea Fruit Oil Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil Borago Officinalis Seed Oil Hydrogenated Olive Oil Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil Linoleic Acid Linolenic Acid Oleic Acid Euterpe Oleracea Sterols Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Serine Alanine Glycine Proline Lysine Hcl Threonine Arginine Cholesterol Phytosphingosine Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract Lecithin Sodium Hyaluronate Sodium Lactate Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract Adenosine Phytic Acid Glutamic Acid Betaine Pullulan PCA Sodium PCA Sodium Polyacrylate Starch Sclerotium Gum Xanthan Gum Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Ethylhexylglycerin Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ceteareth-6 Olivate, Butylene Glycol, C13-15 Alkane, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Decyl Oleate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Euterpe Oleracea Sterols, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Proline, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Squalane, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Adenosine, Phytic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Betaine, Pullulan, PCA, Sodium PCA, Carbomer, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients. Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL). In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!). Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity. While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize. 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. 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. Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin.