Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster Versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster Versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II. This brightening ser

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Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster Versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II. This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Ferulic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles. This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Bifida Ferment Lysate to strengthen the skin barrier. Water Ascorbic Acid Dipropylene Glycol Propanediol Glycerin Ethoxydiglycol Sodium Hydroxide PPG-26-Buteth-26 PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Bisabolol Ferulic Acid Sodium Phytate Decylene Glycol Tocopherol 1,2-Hexanediol Sphingomonas Ferment Extract Phenoxyethanol Water, Ascorbic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Hydroxide, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Bisabolol, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Decylene Glycol, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Phenoxyethanol Bifida Ferment Lysate Methyl Gluceth-20 PEG-75 Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane Butylene Glycol Cola Acuminata Seed Extract Hydrolyzed Algin Pantethine Caffeine Lecithin Tripeptide-32 Ethylhexylglycerin Sodium Rna Glycereth-26 Squalane Sodium Hyaluronate Oleth-3 Phosphate Caprylyl Glycol Lactobacillus Ferment Oleth-3 Oleth-5 Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract Faex Extract Choleth-24 Hydrogenated Lecithin Ceteth-24 Tocopheryl Acetate Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate Hexylene Glycol Carbomer Triethanolamine Trisodium EDTA BHT Xanthan Gum CI 14700 CI 19140 Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Methyl Gluceth-20, PEG-75, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Cola Acuminata Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Pantethine, Caffeine, Lecithin, Tripeptide-32, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Rna, Bisabolol, Glycereth-26, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Oleth-3, Oleth-5, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Faex Extract, Choleth-24, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceteth-24, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Hexylene Glycol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Trisodium EDTA, BHT, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, CI 14700, CI 19140 These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient. It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation. A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin. In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum. You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%. Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin. 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 down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive. Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10). You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own. Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU. Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages. Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon. Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin. It’s often used to: Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent. Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product. So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation. You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink