Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Medik8 R-Retinoate Intense Versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment

Medik8 R-Retinoate Intense Versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment Detailed comparison of Medik8 R-Retinoate Intense EU versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US. This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Retinal and Retinyl Retinoate to soften the

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

Medik8 R-Retinoate Intense Versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment Detailed comparison of Medik8 R-Retinoate Intense EU versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US. This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Retinal and Retinyl Retinoate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Retinol and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. Water Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Glycerin Butylene Glycol Isododecane Squalane Cetearyl Alcohol Dimethicone Cetearyl Olivate Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Polylactic Acid Cyclodextrin PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer Sorbitan Olivate Titanium Dioxide Eclipta Prostrata Extract Phenethyl Alcohol Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract Phenoxyethanol Cholesteryl Nonanoate Sodium Hyaluronate Tocopheryl Acetate Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil Canola Oil Xanthan Gum Pentylene Glycol Retinal Retinyl Retinoate Citric Acid Alumina Isostearic Acid Lecithin Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate Polyhydroxystearic Acid Stearic Acid Ceramide AP Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract Ethylhexylglycerin Linoleic Acid Palmitic Acid Ceramide NP Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil Disodium EDTA Phytosterols Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract Sodium Polyaspartate Phytosphingosine Parfum Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14 Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate Ceramide EOP Cholesterol C12-16 Alcohols Caprylyl Glycol Carbomer Hydrogenated Lecithin Glyceryl Caprylate Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer Polyvinyl Alcohol Phenylpropanol BHT Limonene Linalool Citral Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isododecane, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polylactic Acid, Cyclodextrin, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Titanium Dioxide, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Cholesteryl Nonanoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Canola Oil, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Retinal, Retinyl Retinoate, Citric Acid, Alumina, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Stearic Acid, Ceramide AP, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linoleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Ceramide NP, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Phytosterols, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Sodium Polyaspartate, Phytosphingosine, Parfum, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Ceramide EOP, Cholesterol, C12-16 Alcohols, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Phenylpropanol, BHT, Limonene, Linalool, Citral Isononyl Isononanoate Castor Isostearate Succinate Glyceryl Stearate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Dimethicone Crosspolymer PEG-33 Polysorbate 20 Behenyl Alcohol PEG-100 Stearate Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate Polymethylsilsesquioxane Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Retinol Ceramide Ng Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Arctium Lappa Seed Oil Salix Alba Extract Be the first to review These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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). Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture. Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%. It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier. Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%. A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions. Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane. What it does: Dimethicone comes in different viscosities: Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties. Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity. This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient. Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy. 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