Medix 5.5 Retinol + Ferulic Acid Body Cream Versus Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment

Medix 5.5 Retinol + Ferulic Acid Body Cream Versus Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment Detailed comparison of Medix 5.5 Retinol + Ferulic Acid Body Cream versus Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment. This smoothing moisturizer is formulated around Retinol and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to refine skin texture and soften the look of wrinkles. Water Cetyl Alcohol Glycerin Dimethicone Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Ceteareth-20 Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Retinol Ferulic Acid Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Helianthus Annuus Extract Oryza Sativa Bran Extract Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Tocopherol Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate Isopropyl Myristate Cetearyl Phosphate Glyceryl Stearate Synthetic Beeswax Carbomer BHT Xanthan Gum Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate Parfum Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin Caprylyl Glycol Hexylene Glycol Sodium Hydroxide Amyl Cinnamal Citronellol Geraniol Hexyl Cinnamal Hydroxycitronellal Linalool Sodium Chloride Sodium Carbonate Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ceteareth-20, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Retinol, Ferulic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Isopropyl Myristate, Cetearyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, Synthetic Beeswax, Carbomer, BHT, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Amyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Carbonate Cetearyl Alcohol Cyclopentasiloxane Butylene Glycol Cetyl Palmitate PEG-100 Stearate Oenothera Biennis Oil Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Tocopheryl Acetate Panthenol Carnosine Dimethiconol Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer Beeswax Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Dicaprylyl Carbonate Decylene Glycol Disodium EDTA Chlorphenesin Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Palmitate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Retinol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Carnosine, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Beeswax, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Decylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol 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. This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients. Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL). In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!). Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity. While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize. 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%. Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate is derived from cetearyl alcohol and sorbic acid. It is an emollient and helps hydrate the skin. Emollients form a barrier on the skin to prevent water from escaping. Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. Its main roles are: Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols. This ingredi