La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum Versus Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer

La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum Versus Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer Detailed comparison of La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum versus Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer. This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Salicylic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and refine skin texture. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness. Water Ascorbic Acid Cyclohexasiloxane Glycerin Alcohol Denat. Potassium Hydroxide Polymethylsilsesquioxane Polysilicone-11 Dimethicone Propylene Glycol Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate C13-14 Isoparaffin Tocopherol Sodium Hyaluronate Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid Adenosine Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate Poloxamer 338 Salicylic Acid Polyacrylamide Toluene Sulfonic Acid Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate Xanthan Gum Caprylyl Glycol Disodium EDTA BHT Laureth-7 Parfum Water, Ascorbic Acid, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Potassium Hydroxide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polysilicone-11, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Adenosine, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Poloxamer 338, Salicylic Acid, Polyacrylamide, Toluene Sulfonic Acid, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Laureth-7, Parfum Ethyl Macadamiate Cetearyl Alcohol Propanediol Triethylhexanoin Sodium Acrylates Copolymer Glyceryl Stearate PEG-100 Stearate Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Hydrolyzed Pumpkin Seedcake Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract Prunus Serotina Fruit Extract Niacinamide Tripeptide-29 Ceramide NP Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Phytosphingosine Cholesterol Panthenol Sodium PCA Lecithin Arginine Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Sodium Gluconate Citric Acid Isohexadecane Carbomer Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin Water, Ethyl Macadamiate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Triethylhexanoin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root, Hydrolyzed Pumpkin Seedcake, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Prunus Serotina Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Tripeptide-29, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Adenosine, Lecithin, Arginine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Isohexadecane, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin 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. 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 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin. This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products. Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity. Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine. Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity. In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface. Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior: Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effec