Paula's Choice Clinical Ceramide-Enriched Firming Moisturizer Versus Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum

Paula's Choice Clinical Ceramide-Enriched Firming Moisturizer Versus Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Clinical Ceramide-Enriched Firming Moisturizer versus Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum. This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinol and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. Water Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate Cetyl Alcohol Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate Potassium Cetyl Phosphate Glyceryl Stearate PEG-100 Stearate Glycerin PEG-12 Glyceryl Dimyristate Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2 Dimethicone Glyceryl Ascorbate Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Retinol Ceramide NP Ceramide Ns Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Ceramide Eos Cholesterol Caprooyl Phytosphingosine Caprooyl Sphingosine Squalane Punica Granatum Extract Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Vitis Vinifera Tocopheryl Acetate Carnosine Panthenol Sodium PCA Butylene Glycol Sodium Citrate Ceteareth-25 Polysorbate 20 Ethylhexyl Stearate Sodium Hydroxide Trideceth-6 Propyl Gallate Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer Sodium Polyacrylate Behenic Acid Disodium EDTA Phenoxyethanol Caprylyl Glycol Chlorphenesin Water, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Cetyl Alcohol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, PEG-12 Glyceryl Dimyristate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Ascorbate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Retinol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Eos, Cholesterol, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Squalane, Punica Granatum Extract, Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root, Vitis Vinifera, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carnosine, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Ceteareth-25, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Trideceth-6, Propyl Gallate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Behenic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin Cyclopentasiloxane Dimethiconol Dicaprylyl Carbonate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Phenyl Trimethicone Bisabolol Tocotrienols Tocopherol Lecithin Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Elaeis Guineensis Oil Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate Hexylene Glycol Ethylhexylglycerin Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenyl Trimethicone, Squalane, Bisabolol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Retinol, Tocotrienols, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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). Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate is a lightweight synthetic emollient that also helps improve how a product feels and spreads. In a formula, it's a workhorse that: The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics and found to be a non-ocular (eye) irritant at 100% in rabbits. Usage levels vary depending on product type; industry surveys report it around 2.2% in baby products, 19.5% in hair sprays, and 1-20% in skincare. 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. Retinol is one of the most studied anti-aging ingredients in skincare (and for good reason!). It's a form of vitamin A that your skin converts into Retinoic Acid, the active molecule that actually does the work in your cells. That conversion happens in two steps: your skin first turns Retinol into Retinaldehyde (also called Retinal), then turns Retinaldehyde into Retinoic Acid. Retinol is converted to biologically active retinoic acid via retinaldehyde by dehydrogenases in a two-step oxidation process. Each step is a little "upgrade" toward the active form which is part of why Retinol is gentler than prescription Retinoic Acid; your skin does the work gradually. This al