Paula's Choice Calm Repairing Serum Versus The INKEY List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum

Paula's Choice Calm Repairing Serum Versus The INKEY List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Calm Repairing Serum versus The INKEY List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum. This calming serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Ceramide NP to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier. This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Ectoin and Panthenol to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. Water Glycerin Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Sodium Hyaluronate Polysorbate 20 Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride PEG/PPG-14/4 Dimethicone Xanthan Gum Disodium EDTA Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids Ceramide NP Ethylhexylglycerin Epilobium Angustifolium Extract Ceramide AP Cholesterol Phytosphingosine Beta-Glucan Sarcosine Carbomer Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower Extract Sea Whip Extract Glycine Soja Seed Extract Hyaluronic Acid Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Ceramide EOP Magnesium Aspartate Potassium Aspartate Ubiquinone Phenoxyethanol 1,2-Hexanediol Caprylyl Glycol Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate Calcium Chloride Propylene Glycol Tocopherol Sodium Metabisulfite Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate Sodium Benzoate Potassium Sorbate Water, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG/PPG-14/4 Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Beta-Glucan, Sarcosine, Carbomer, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower Extract, Sea Whip Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ceramide EOP, Magnesium Aspartate, Potassium Aspartate, Ubiquinone, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Calcium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate Propanediol Coconut Alkanes Ectoin 2% Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate Maltodextrin Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate Panthenol Cetearyl Alcohol Sclerotium Gum Glyceryl Stearate Jojoba Esters Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Sodium Citrate Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax Citric Acid Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Triethyl Citrate Pentylene Glycol Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer Behenic Acid Sodium Levulinate Polyglycerin-3 Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate Water, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coconut Alkanes, Ectoin 2%, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Panthenol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Citric Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Glycerin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Triethyl Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ceramide NP, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Behenic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Polyglycerin-3, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Ceramide EOP 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%. Ceramide AP is is a skin-identical lipid that mimics what your skin already makes naturally. Ceramides help maintain epidermal integrity and barrier function. You'll often see this ingredient paired with other ceramides (like ceramide NP), cholesterol, or fatty acids because this combination best mimics the natural lipid mix your skin already has. The skin's ability to produce ceramides gets disrupted in skin conditions like eczema. This in turn weakens the skin barrier and applying ceramides topically has been shown to replenish what's been lost to restore barrier function. Most of the studies with Ceramide AP test it as part of a multi-ceramide complex; studies reinforce ceramide AP's role in rebalancing ceramides in skin and improving skin hydration. Ceramide EOP is formally known as Ceramide 1. It is naturally found in skin and part of the intercellular "mortar" holding everything together in your outermost layer. EOP stands for a linked Ester fatty acid, a linked Omega hydroxy fatty acid, and the Phytosphingosine base. What makes Ceramide EOP special is its ultra-long fatty acid chain; this unique structure allows it to bridge the lipid layers in your skin barrier to prevent water loss (something no other ceramide can do). Low levels of Ceramide EOP have been found in people with eczema and psoriasis. Using it together with other ceramides, cholesterol, and linoleic acid have been shown to meaningfully improve hydration and reduce water loss. In one clinical study, a regimen using Ceramide EOP, NP, and AP led to significant symptom impro