Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum Versus Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum

Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum Versus Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum versus Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum. This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinol and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. Water Niacinamide Glycerin Tranexamic Acid C13-15 Alkane Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Dicaprylyl Carbonate Ethyl Macadamiate Behenyl Alcohol Glyceryl Stearate Butylene Glycol Silybum Marianum Seed Oil Tocopherol Lactobacillus/Coconut Fruit Juice Ferment Filtrate Lecithin Bakuchiol Xanthan Gum Caprylyl Glycol Hydrogenated Lecithin Allantoin Glycine Soja Oil Hexylene Glycol Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract Glycine Soja Sterols Citric Acid Sodium Phytate Malic Acid Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Tranexamic Acid, C13-15 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Lactobacillus/Coconut Fruit Juice Ferment Filtrate, Lecithin, Bakuchiol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Allantoin, Glycine Soja Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Malic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin Cyclopentasiloxane Isododecane Dimethicone Crosspolymer Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate Cyclohexasiloxane Tocopheryl Acetate Retinyl Palmitate Retinol Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Astaxanthin Bisabolol Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Salix Alba Bark Extract Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract Betula Alba Bark Extract Silica Cyclopentasiloxane, Isododecane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Retinol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Astaxanthin, Bisabolol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Silica, Phenoxyethanol 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%. Glycine Soja Oil is a plant-derived oil from soybean seeds. Like other oils, it is rich in essential fatty acids (mostly linoleic and oleic) that support skin hydration and barrier function. The fatty acids are able to integrate into the lipid matrix of the stratum corneum to help soften skin and reduce water loss. On top of that, soybean oil is rich in vitamins like vitamin E, a potent antioxidant. Research on soybean's active components also point to anti-inflammatory, collagen-stimulating, antioxidant activity, and protection against UV-induced oxidative damage. Most of this research applies to the broader soybean plant and not just the oil fraction alone. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to the oleic acid content. 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 concentratio