Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Paula's Choice Moisture Boost One Step Face Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Hydralight One Step Face Cleanser

Paula's Choice Moisture Boost One Step Face Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Hydralight One Step Face Cleanser Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Moisture Boost One Step Face Cleanser versus Paula's Choice Hydralight One Step Face Cleanser. Water Sodium Laure

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Paula's Choice Moisture Boost One Step Face Cleanser Versus Paula's Choice Hydralight One Step Face Cleanser Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Moisture Boost One Step Face Cleanser versus Paula's Choice Hydralight One Step Face Cleanser. Water Sodium Laureth Sulfate Glycol Stearate Methyl Gluceth-20 Glyceryl Stearate Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Cocamidopropyl Betaine Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate Sodium Hyaluronate Sodium PCA Hydroxyethylcellulose Caprylyl Glycol Hexylene Glycol Propylene Glycol Citric Acid Phytic Acid Phenoxyethanol Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycol Stearate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Phytic Acid, Phenoxyethanol Glycerin Sodium Lactate Glycine Fructose Urea Niacinamide Inositol Lactic Acid Allantoin PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate Xanthan Gum Triethanolamine Carbomer Benzophenone-3 Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate Propylparaben Methylparaben Sodium Benzoate Water, Glycerin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Glycine, Fructose, Urea, Niacinamide, Inositol, Lactic Acid, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Xanthan Gum, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Benzophenone-3, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Sodium Benzoate These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity. In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface. Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior: Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair. Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects. You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient. Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is a foaming, cleansing, and emulsifying ingredient. It is created from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. SLES is not the same as sodium lauryl sulfate. It is much milder and less likely to irritate. SLES helps create foam in personal products. It also prevents ingredients from separating, helping to elongate the shelf life. Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient if you have concerns. Sodium PCA (the salt of PCA) is one of the most well-established humectants in skincare. Why is it so special? Your skin already makes it naturally; it's a natural component of your skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), or the mix of water-binding compounds inside your skin cells that keeps things soft and hydrated. As a cosmetic ingredient, it grabs water and holds it in the upper layers of skin to smooth roughness and ease dehydration. There's some clinical support for the NMF approach with a study showing that a cream built to mimic the skin's NMF significantly boosted hydration. Safety-wise, this ingredient non-irritating, non-comedogenic, and non-phototoxic in testing, with minimal skin absorption. It also works really well with other hydrators like glycerin or hyaluronic acid, and typical usage is somewhere between 0.2-4%. Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product. So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation. You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!