Paula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier Versus SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum

Paula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier Versus SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier versus SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum. This pore-care treatment is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside and Salicylic Acid to refine the look of pores and balance excess oil. This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness. Water Propanediol Butylene Glycol Ethoxydiglycol Glycerin Ascorbyl Glucoside Panthenol Salicylic Acid Camellia Sinensis Callus Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate Coffea Arabica Fruit Extract Ceramide NP Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Panax Ginseng Root Extract Niacinamide Phytic Acid Epigallocatechin Gallate Adenosine Ubiquinone Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract Sodium Hyaluronate Lecithin Centella Asiatica Extract Sucrose Stearate Glycine Soja Seed Extract Hydrogenated Lecithin Carbomer Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Caprylyl Glycol Polysorbate 20 Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate Hydroxyethylcellulose Sodium Hydroxide Ethylhexylglycerin Phenoxyethanol Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Callus, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Coffea Arabica Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Niacinamide, Phytic Acid, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Adenosine, Ubiquinone, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sucrose Stearate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Carbomer, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexyl Olivate Cetearyl Alcohol Chlorogenic Acids Lauryl Lactate Dimethyl Isosorbide Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Allyl Ester Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Ergothioneine Benzylidene Dimethoxydimethylindanone Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract Carnosine Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract Curcuma Longa Root Extract Olea Europaea Fruit Extract Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2 Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract Coffea Arabica Leaf Cell Extract Crocus Sativus Leaf Cell Culture Extract Superoxide Dismutase Plankton Extract Micrococcus Lysate Arginine Zingiber Officinale Root Extract Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Linoleic Acid Linolenic Acid Sea Whip Extract Bisabolol Tocopherol Tocopheryl Acetate Cholesterol Phytosphingosine Jojoba Esters Sodium PCA Pentylene Glycol Methyl Gluceth-20 Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Dicetyl Phosphate Propanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate Polyglycerin-3 Ceteth-20 Phosphate Diisostearyl Malate Xanthan Gum Steareth-2 Acacia Senegal Gum Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Dextran Ricinoleth-40 Citric Acid Sodium Phytate Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Chlorogenic Acids, Niacinamide, Lauryl Lactate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Allyl Ester, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root E These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons: Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients. Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness. 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 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. Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that: The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure. Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations. Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum. Topically, glycerin does several things at once: Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your ep