MooGoo Bakuchiol (1%) Natural Retinol Substitute Active Serum Versus Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum

MooGoo Bakuchiol (1%) Natural Retinol Substitute Active Serum Versus Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum Detailed comparison of MooGoo Bakuchiol (1%) Natural Retinol Substitute Active Serum versus Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Bakuchiol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin. Water Glyceryl Oleate Citrate Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride PEG-4 Esters Bakuchiol Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Tocopherol Cetearyl Alcohol Phospholipids Glycine Soja Oil Glycolipids Glycine Soja Sterols Xanthan Gum Lecithin Sclerotium Gum Pullulan Sodium Citrate Potassium Sorbate Piroctone Olamine Citric Acid Water, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride PEG-4 Esters, Bakuchiol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phospholipids, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycolipids, Glycine Soja Sterols, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Piroctone Olamine, Citric Acid Niacinamide Glycerin Tranexamic Acid C13-15 Alkane Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Dicaprylyl Carbonate Ethyl Macadamiate Behenyl Alcohol Glyceryl Stearate Butylene Glycol Silybum Marianum Seed Oil Lactobacillus/Coconut Fruit Juice Ferment Filtrate Caprylyl Glycol Hydrogenated Lecithin Allantoin Hexylene Glycol Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract Sodium Phytate Malic Acid Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Tranexamic Acid, C13-15 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Lactobacillus/Coconut Fruit Juice Ferment Filtrate, Lecithin, Bakuchiol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Allantoin, Glycine Soja Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Malic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin 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. Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant. It has antimicrobial, emollient, skin conditioning, and antioxidant properties. You'll likely see it called a "retinol replacement" but the two are technically not related. This is because bakuchiol is able to flip many of the same switches in your skin cells to tell them to: 1) produce more collagen (type I, III, and IV) 2) activate the same genes retinoids do Unlike retinoids, this ingredient will not increase photosensitivity and is safe to use during pregnancy (but please still check in with your doctor!). The flagship clinical trial from Dhaliwal et al. 2019 found 0.5% bakuchiol (twice daily) and 0.5% retinol (once daily) reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation equally, but bakuchiol had significantly less irritation. Systematic reviews also back this up: Bakuchiol is comparable to retinol for photoaging but with better tolerability. It also has mild antibacterial properties against Cutibacterium acnes and antifungal activity in vitro against Candida and dermatophytes. The reason bakuchiol works well is due to its structure; it is a meroterpene phenol, or a hybrid molecule. The phenol half acts as an antioxidant while the terpene half is fat-loving. This helps the molecule slip through the skin barrier. This ingredient is usually used between 0.5-2%. Only one case of contact dermatitis has ever been reported for this ingredient. Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes. Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath. However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products. Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH. In skincare formulas, citric acid can: While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants. Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations. Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger. However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is un