Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Versus Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Versus Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment Detailed comparison of Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 versus Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment. This anti-aging serum is formulated around 3-O-Eth

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Medik8 Crystal Retinal Versus Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment Detailed comparison of Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 versus Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment. This anti-aging serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Bakuchiol and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. Water Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Glycerin Isododecane Cetearyl Olivate Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Cyclodextrin Cetearyl Alcohol Sorbitan Olivate Tocopheryl Acetate Squalane Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Hydroxyacetophenone 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid Phenoxyethanol Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Sodium Hyaluronate Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil Pentylene Glycol Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil Retinal Alumina Isostearic Acid Lecithin Sodium Polyaspartate Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract Polyhydroxystearic Acid Disodium EDTA Ethylhexylglycerin Stearic Acid Polysorbate 60 Sorbitan Isostearate BHT Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract Dipteryx Odorata Bean Extract Coumarin CI 14700 CI 77891 Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isododecane, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cyclodextrin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Squalane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Retinal, Alumina, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Sodium Polyaspartate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, BHT, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Dipteryx Odorata Bean Extract, Coumarin, CI 14700, CI 77891 Dimethicone Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate Isononyl Isononanoate Butylene Glycol Bakuchiol Arachidyl Alcohol Glyceryl Polymethacrylate Dimethicone Crosspolymer Behenyl Alcohol PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides Glyceryl Stearate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Polysorbate 20 Retinol Ceramide Ng Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Arctium Lappa Root Extract Salix Alba Bark Extract Glycine Soja Sterols Allantoin Hydrolyzed Soy Protein Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Sodium Hydroxide Tribehenin Caprylyl Glycol Dipeptide-2 Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract PEG-10 Phytosterol PEG-8 Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Arachidyl Glucoside Chrysin Sodium Acrylates Copolymer Steareth-20 Coco-Glucoside Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone N-Hydroxysuccinimide Benzoic Acid Water, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Bakuchiol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Glycerin, PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides, Glyceryl Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polysorbate 20, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Retinol, Ceramide Ng, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyr These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier. Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient. It plays several roles in a formula: Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products. Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people. However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers. Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy. Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans. Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients. This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize. A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe. Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air. This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with: On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it. One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin). Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption. You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%. 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 rin