Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 0.1% Retinal Serum Versus Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum

Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 0.1% Retinal Serum Versus Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum Detailed comparison of Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 0.1% Retinal Serum versus Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum. This anti-

This source-based comparison does not add ratings or recommend a winner.

Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 0.1% Retinal Serum Versus Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum Detailed comparison of Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 0.1% Retinal Serum versus Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum. This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Retinal to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinol and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. Water Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Oleyl Erucate Glycerin Triheptanoin Cyclodextrin Cetearyl Olivate Sorbitan Olivate Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Biosaccharide Gum-1 Allantoin Retinal 0.1% Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil Panthenol Citric Acid Tocopheryl Acetate Disodium EDTA Pentylene Glycol Ethylhexylglycerin Phenoxyethanol Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oleyl Erucate, Glycerin, Triheptanoin, Cyclodextrin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Allantoin, Retinal 0.1%, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol Cyclopentasiloxane Dimethiconol Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate Dicaprylyl Carbonate Phenyl Trimethicone Squalane Bisabolol Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Retinol Tocotrienols Tocopherol Lecithin Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Elaeis Guineensis Oil Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate Hexylene Glycol Caprylyl Glycol Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenyl Trimethicone, Squalane, Bisabolol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Retinol, Tocotrienols, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol 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. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel. While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns. Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source. This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out. This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%. Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that: The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure. Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations. 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 childre