Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol Versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment

Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol Versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment Detailed comparison of Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US. This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Retinol and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

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

Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol Versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment Detailed comparison of Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US. This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Retinol and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. Water Glycerin Propanediol Cetyl Ethylhexanoate C13-15 Alkane Cetyl Alcohol Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Cetearyl Olivate Coconut Alkanes Sorbitan Olivate Potassium Cetyl Phosphate Betaine Retinyl Sunflowerseedate Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Sodium Hyaluronate Tocopherol Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Ethylhexylglycerin Glycol Stearate Glyceryl Stearate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Maltodextrin Xanthan Gum Benzoic Acid Sodium Hydroxide Carbomer Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, C13-15 Alkane, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Olivate, Coconut Alkanes, Sorbitan Olivate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Betaine, Retinyl Sunflowerseedate, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycol Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Dimethicone Butylene Glycol Isononyl Isononanoate Castor Isostearate Succinate 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 Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Arctium Lappa Seed Oil Salix Alba Extract Glycine Soja Sterols Lecithin Allantoin Tocopheryl Acetate Hydrolyzed Soy Protein Sorbitan Laurate Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester Disodium EDTA Hydroxyethylcellulose Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 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 Phenoxyethanol 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 Acetate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Sorbitan Laurate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Sodium Hydroxide, Tribehenin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, P 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. Benzoic Acid is an organic acid that shows up in cosmetics as a preservative. It helps keep a product from spoiling by holding back the growth of yeast, mold, and some bacteria. This ingredient also functions as a fragrance ingredient that helps mask the unpleasant scent of other ingredients. The way it works is worth understanding; benzoic acid works when the formula is acidic. It is able to sneak into a microbe's cell and mess up how it functions to stop it from growing in an acidic product. However, the acid switches to an inactive form and stops working if a product isn't acidic enough (above ~5 pH). This is why you'll often see it in low pH products or teamed up with other preservatives to cover the gap. Safety wise, it's one of the better studied preservatives out there. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%. A large international review found this ingredient had no effects on the human body and had low irritation potential. Just so you know, real world use is usually much lower than the 5% ceiling (usually 1% of less). The EU caps it at 2.5% in rinse-off products, 1.7% in oral care, and 0.5% in leave-on products. One thing worth mentioning (it's nothing to worry about): some people get a little stinging or flushing where they apply it. This isn't a true allergy; it's a temporary and harmless reaction. This is the same kind of mild tingle you might notice from sorbic acid. 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. 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. 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