Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide Versus Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner

Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide Versus Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner Detailed comparison of Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide versus Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner US. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Ceramide NP to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This pore-care toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthenol to refine the look of pores and balance excess oil. Water Glycerin Butylene Glycol Pentylene Glycol Niacinamide Cetyl Alcohol Isohexadecane Isononyl Isononanoate Diisopropyl Sebacate 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester Adenosine Ceramide NP Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine Lauroyl Lysine Octyldodecanol Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate Sodium Chloride Sodium Hyaluronate Sodium Hydroxide Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Retinol Tocopherol Dicaprylyl Ether Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate Behenyl Alcohol Caprylyl Glycol Carbomer Cetearyl Alcohol Cetearyl Glucoside Glycine Soja Oil Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Hydroxyethylcellulose Lecithin Phenethyl Alcohol Poloxamer 188 Polycaprolactone Sorbitan Laurate Steareth-100 CI 40800 Chlorphenesin Phenoxyethanol Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Adenosine, Ceramide NP, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Lauroyl Lysine, Octyldodecanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Retinol, Tocopherol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Behenyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lecithin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Poloxamer 188, Polycaprolactone, Sorbitan Laurate, Steareth-100, CI 40800, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol Polysorbate 20 Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract Arctium Lappa Seed Oil Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters Sodium PCA Panthenol Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Phytosphingosine Cholesterol Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Oleth-10 Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Hexylene Glycol Sodium Citrate Xanthan Gum Trisodium EDTA Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Adenosine, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Arctium Lappa Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Oleth-10, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that your body already makes in every cell. In skincare, it acts mainly as a skin conditioning and anti-aging agent. The way it works is fairly well mapped out: Your skin has cells called fibroblasts that build collagen (the stuff that keeps skin firm and smooth). Adenosine basically flips a switch on these cells that tells them to get to work making more collagen and other proteins. These cells slow down on their own as skin ages, so Adenosine helps give them a little nudge to keep going. The clinical backing is pretty solid too. A blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 126 women aged 45-65 tested a 0.1% cream twice daily and found real improvements in crow's feet and frown lines using a precise 3D skin-mapping technique; these changes showed up by week 3 and held at 2 months. A later study using Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches reported gains in wrinkle depth, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration. On concentrations, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has set 0.04% as the approved functional anti-wrinkle level. You'll typically see this ingredient used somewhere in the 0.04-0.1% range since it works at low doses. This ingredient has been found safe for cosmetics with the data showing no irritation or sensitization. Overall, this is a great ingredient for any anti-aging routine and has no photosensitizing effect, so it suits both AM and PM use. 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. Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created. Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin. Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on). 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 an