Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Paula's Choice Clinical Ultra-Rich Moisturizer Versus Paula's Choice Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer

Paula's Choice Clinical Ultra-Rich Moisturizer Versus Paula's Choice Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Clinical Ultra-Rich Moisturizer versus Paula's Choice Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer EU. This barrier-repair moi

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Paula's Choice Clinical Ultra-Rich Moisturizer Versus Paula's Choice Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Clinical Ultra-Rich Moisturizer versus Paula's Choice Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer EU. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Ceramide Ag and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. Water Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Glyceryl Stearate Se Olea Europaea Fruit Oil Dimethicone Stearic Acid Glyceryl Stearate Mangifera Indica Seed Butter Cetyl Alcohol Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract Ceramide NP Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Sphingolipids Phospholipids Phytosphingosine Squalene Cholesterol Tocopherol Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil Persea Gratissima Oil Glycine Soja Oil Oryza Sativa Bran Extract Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Glycerin Panthenol Ascorbyl Palmitate Beta-Sitosterol Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides Citrate Propylene Glycol Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Xanthan Gum Carbomer Disodium EDTA Ethylhexylglycerin Phenoxyethanol Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Sphingolipids, Phospholipids, Phytosphingosine, Squalene, Cholesterol, Tocopherol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Glycerin, Panthenol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Beta-Sitosterol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides Citrate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol 2,3-Butanediol Dicaprylyl Carbonate Cocoglycerides Ceramide Ag Hydroxyacetophenone Sodium Hyaluronate Ceramide Ng Adenosine Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 Hexylene Glycol Trehalose Squalane Sodium Phytate Urea Hydrogenated Lecithin Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil Caprylyl Glycol Sodium PCA Polyquaternium-51 Triacetin Sodium Polyacrylate Ethylhexyl Stearate Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate Water, 2,3-Butanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cocoglycerides, Ceramide Ag, Ceramide NP, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide AP, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Hexylene Glycol, Trehalose, Cholesterol, Squalane, Sodium Phytate, Urea, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium PCA, Polyquaternium-51, Triacetin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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 improvements in patients with eczema, psoriasis, and dry skin in just 4 weeks. You'll usually see concentrations between 0.1-0.5% in formulations. Overall, this is a well-tolerated and safe ingredient for cosmetic use. 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 little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient. Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically. Cholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one