Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane Versus Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane Versus Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer Detailed comparison of Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane versus Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Allantoin to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness. Water Glycerin Dimethicone Squalane Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane Sucrose Stearate Stearyl Alcohol PEG-8 Stearate Myristyl Myristate Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil Phenoxyethanol Persea Gratissima Oil Glyceryl Stearate Cetyl Alcohol Oryza Sativa Bran Oil Olea Europaea Fruit Oil Chlorphenesin Stearic Acid Palmitic Acid Carbomer Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil Xanthan Gum Ethylhexylglycerin Sodium Hydroxide Tocopherol Glycine Soja Oil Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract Myristic Acid Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine Salicylic Acid Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Citric Acid Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Squalane, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sucrose Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, PEG-8 Stearate, Myristyl Myristate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Chlorphenesin, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Myristic Acid, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Salicylic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Triheptanoin C13-16 Isoalkane Butylene Glycol Propanediol Inulin Ethylhexyl Stearate Caprylyl Glycol Allantoin Sodium Phytate Hexylene Glycol Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide Glycogen Laminaria Digitata Extract Albatrellus Confluens Extract Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract Galactoarabinan Maltodextrin Schizophyllan Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Potassium Sorbate Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Triheptanoin, C13-16 Isoalkane, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Inulin, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Squalane, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Glycogen, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Albatrellus Confluens Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Galactoarabinan, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Schizophyllan, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products. As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied. It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin. A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record. Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes. Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath. However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products. Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH. In skincare formulas, citric acid can: While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants. Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations. Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger. However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure. 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: Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3. Aquaporin-3 i