Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

MediCube Deep Vita C Pad Versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner

MediCube Deep Vita C Pad Versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner Detailed comparison of MediCube Deep Vita C Pad versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner. This brightening toner pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Niacinamide

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

MediCube Deep Vita C Pad Versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner Detailed comparison of MediCube Deep Vita C Pad versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner. This brightening toner pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Niacinamide and Gluconolactone to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots. This barrier-repair toner is formulated around Oenothera Biennis Oil and Borago Officinalis Seed Oil to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness. Hippophae Rhamnoides Water Water Methyl Gluceth-20 Methylpropanediol Niacinamide Glycereth-26 Methyl Gluceth-10 Polyglycerin-3 1,2-Hexanediol Gluconolactone 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid Ethylhexylglycerin Cymbopogon Martini Oil Cymbopogon Nardus Oil Adenosine Butylene Glycol Disodium EDTA Mentha Viridis Extract Lactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract Geraniol Citronellol Coptis Japonica Extract Cucumis Melo Seed Extract Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil Pelargonium Graveolens Extract Allantoin Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Panthenol Sodium Hyaluronate Lactic Acid Glucose Beta-Glucan Linalool Hyaluronic Acid Glycerin Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Tocopherol Cetyl Palmitate Ubiquinone Polysorbate 80 Sorbitan Stearate Sodium Benzoate Citric Acid Hydrogenated Lecithin Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 Ergothioneine Hesperidin Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10 Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Water, Methyl Gluceth-20, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Glycereth-26, Methyl Gluceth-10, Polyglycerin-3, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gluconolactone, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Cymbopogon Nardus Oil, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Mentha Viridis Extract, Lactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract, Geraniol, Citronellol, Coptis Japonica Extract, Cucumis Melo Seed Extract, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Glucose, Beta-Glucan, Linalool, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Cetyl Palmitate, Ubiquinone, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Stearate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ergothioneine, Hesperidin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10 Cyclopentasiloxane Dimethiconol Oenothera Biennis Oil Borago Officinalis Seed Oil Tocopheryl Acetate Ascorbyl Palmitate Superoxide Dismutase PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Myristamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate Laureth-4 Laureth-23 Chlorphenesin Phenoxyethanol Benzoic Acid Sorbic Acid Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Dimethiconol, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Superoxide Dismutase, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Myristamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Laureth-4, Laureth-23, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics. Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity. Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation. It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh. Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated. This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%. Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating. Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism. 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. 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%. Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs ont