Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment Versus SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream

Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment Versus SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US versus SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream. This anti-aging treatment is formulated

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Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment Versus SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US versus SkinBetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream. This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Retinol and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. Water Dimethicone Glycerin Butylene Glycol 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 Sodium Hyaluronate Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Arctium Lappa Seed Oil Salix Alba Extract Glycine Soja Sterols Lecithin Allantoin Tocopheryl Acetate Hydrolyzed Soy Protein Sorbitan Laurate Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester Disodium EDTA Hydroxyethylcellulose Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Sodium Hydroxide Tribehenin Caprylyl Glycol Ethylhexylglycerin Pentylene Glycol PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer PEG-10 Phytosterol PEG-8 Dimethicone PEG-14 Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Arachidyl Glucoside Arachidyl Alcohol Sclerotium Gum Carbomer Phenoxyethanol Benzoic Acid Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 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, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Arctium Lappa Seed Oil, Salix Alba Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, Lecithin, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Sorbitan Laurate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Sodium Hydroxide, Tribehenin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer, PEG-10 Phytosterol, PEG-8 Dimethicone, PEG-14, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Arachidyl Alcohol, Sclerotium Gum, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid Glycolic Acid Sodium Glycolate Cetearyl Olivate Cyclopentasiloxane Isohexadecane Sorbitan Olivate Ceresin Glycol Palmitate Niacinamide Squalane Methyl Gluceth-20 Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate Ceramide NP Hyaluronic Acid Ubiquinone Tocopherol Bisabolol Superoxide Dismutase Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Allantoin Glycyrrhetinic Acid Sodium PCA Panthenol Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Portulaca Oleracea Extract Linoleic Acid Cholesterol Linolenic Acid Dimethyl Isosorbide Steareth-2 Acacia Senegal Gum Xanthan Gum Hydrated Silica Tromethamine CI 77891 Water, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Glycolate, Cetearyl Olivate, Pentylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isohexadecane, Sorbitan Olivate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycerin, Ceresin, Glycol Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Squalane, Methyl Gluceth-20, Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ceramide NP, Hyaluronic Acid, Ubiquinone, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetat 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. 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 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%. Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that: The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of an