Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum Versus It's Skin Power 10 Formula Q10 Effector

Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum Versus It's Skin Power 10 Formula Q10 Effector Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum versus It's Skin Power 10 Formula Q10 Effector. This calming serum is formulated around Beta-Glucan and Ceramide NP to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Polyglutamic Acid and Astaxanthin to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin. Water Glycerin Hyaluronic Acid Beta-Glucan Sea Whip Extract Sodium Hyaluronate Ceramide NP Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Cholesterol Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract Phytosphingosine Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower Extract Glycine Soja Seed Extract Ubiquinone Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Magnesium Aspartate Potassium Aspartate Sarcosine Xanthan Gum Carbomer Polysorbate 20 PEG/PPG-14/4 Dimethicone Disodium EDTA Ethylhexylglycerin Phenoxyethanol Water, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Sea Whip Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Cholesterol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Ubiquinone, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Magnesium Aspartate, Potassium Aspartate, Sarcosine, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, PEG/PPG-14/4 Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol Butylene Glycol Polyglutamic Acid Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract Astaxanthin Lactose Tocopheryl Acetate CI 77492 Dipropylene Glycol Ethyl Hexanediol Triethanolamine Cellulose Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose BHT Phospholipids Parfum Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyglutamic Acid, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Astaxanthin, Lactose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ubiquinone, Ceramide NP, CI 77492, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cellulose, Disodium EDTA, Cholesterol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, BHT, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phospholipids, Parfum 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. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel. While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns. Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source. This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out. This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%. 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. 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 lit