Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Booster Versus PCA Skin Intensive Brightening Treatment 0.5 Pure Retinol Night

Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Booster Versus PCA Skin Intensive Brightening Treatment 0.5 Pure Retinol Night Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Booster versus PCA Skin Intensive Brightening Treatment 0.5 Pure Retinol Night. This anti-aging treatment

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Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Booster Versus PCA Skin Intensive Brightening Treatment 0.5 Pure Retinol Night Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Booster versus PCA Skin Intensive Brightening Treatment 0.5 Pure Retinol Night. This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Retinol and Ceramide NP to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This brightening treatment is formulated around Niacinamide and Retinol to fade the look of dark spots 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 Isododecane Cyclopentasiloxane Niacinamide Propanediol Dimethicone PEG-12 Glyceryl Dimyristate Tapioca Starch Polymethylsilsesquioxane Cetearyl Alcohol Hydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid Pentylene Glycol Polysilicone-11 Glyceryl Stearate PEG-100 Stearate Hexylresorcinol Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Resveratrol Sodium Polyacrylate Ethylhexyl Stearate Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer Chlorphenesin Sodium Citrate Tocopheryl Acetate Trideceth-6 Decyl Glucoside Aminomethyl Propanol Water, Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Dimethicone, PEG-12 Glyceryl Dimyristate, Glycerin, Tapioca Starch Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Hexylresorcinol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Resveratrol, Phenoxyethanol, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trideceth-6, Disodium EDTA, Decyl Glucoside, Aminomethyl Propanol 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). 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%. 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 aquaporin-3. Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin. This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products. Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity. Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine. Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!). It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome. On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts