Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Booster Versus Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum

Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Booster Versus Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Booster versus Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum. This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Retinol and Ceramide NP to soften the

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Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Booster Versus Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Booster versus Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum. This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Retinol and Ceramide NP to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinal and Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. Water Glycerin Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate/Caprate Butylene Glycol Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract Polysorbate 20 Retinol Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Ceramide NP Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Epilobium Angustifolium Extract Arctium Lappa Seed Oil Salix Alba Extract Allantoin Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Caprylyl Glycol Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate Ethylhexyl Olivate Hydrogenated Lecithin Glyceryl Ascorbate Disodium EDTA Sorbic Acid Xanthan Gum Phenoxyethanol Water, Glycerin, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate/Caprate, Butylene Glycol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root, Ceramide NP, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Arctium Lappa Seed Oil, Salix Alba Extract, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Ascorbate, Disodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Isopentyldiol Trioctyldodecyl Citrate Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil 1,2-Hexanediol Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil Panthenol Triolein Retinal Tocopherol Tocopheryl Acetate Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Copernicia Cerifera Wax Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil Glyceryl Dioleate Bisabolol Dunaliella Salina Extract Ethyl Ferulate Humulus Lupulus Extract Zingiber Officinale Root Extract Arginine Propanediol Cellulose Gum Sclerotium Gum Ubiquinone Lactic Acid Sodium Phytate Inulin Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Citric Acid Cellulose Fructose Glucose Sorbitan Isostearate Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopentyldiol, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Panthenol, Triolein, Retinal, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil, Glyceryl Dioleate, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Ethyl Ferulate, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Arginine, Propanediol, Cellulose Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Ubiquinone, Lactic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Caprylyl Glycol, Inulin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Cellulose, Fructose, Glucose, Sorbitan Isostearate, Xanthan Gum 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. 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). Ceramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids. Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes. This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants. A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%. Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days. Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient. Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically. Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum. Topically, glycerin does several things at once: Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via