Ingredient or product comparison
Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment Versus Merle Norman Wrinkle Smoother
Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment Versus Merle Norman Wrinkle Smoother Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment versus Merle Norman Wrinkle Smoother. This smoothing moisturizer is formulated around Retinol
This source-based comparison does not add ratings or recommend a winner.
Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment Versus Merle Norman Wrinkle Smoother Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment versus Merle Norman Wrinkle Smoother. This smoothing moisturizer is formulated around Retinol and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to refine skin texture and soften the look of wrinkles. This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 to soften the look of wrinkles. Water Cetearyl Alcohol Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate Cyclopentasiloxane Dimethicone Glycerin Butylene Glycol Cetyl Palmitate Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Glyceryl Stearate PEG-100 Stearate Oenothera Biennis Oil Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil Cetyl Alcohol Retinol Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Tocopheryl Acetate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Panthenol Carnosine Dimethiconol Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer Beeswax Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Sodium Hydroxide Xanthan Gum Dicaprylyl Carbonate Decylene Glycol Disodium EDTA Chlorphenesin Phenoxyethanol Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Palmitate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Retinol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Carnosine, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Beeswax, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Decylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol Isodecyl Neopentanoate Hydrogenated Polyisobutene Isohexadecane Stearic Acid Nylon-12 Stearyl Alcohol Glyceryl Polymethacrylate Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Serine Glycine Proline Palmitoyl Carnitine Alanine Glutamic Acid Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract Centella Asiatica Extract Retinyl Palmitate Ascorbyl Palmitate PCA Phospholipids Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Echinacea Purpurea Extract PEG-20 Stearate Dimethicone Crosspolymer Bisabolol Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Ethoxydiglycol Lecithin Glucose Lactic Acid Triethanolamine Propylene Glycol Diazolidinyl Urea Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Nylon-12, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Serine, Glycine, Proline, Palmitoyl Carnitine, Alanine, Glutamic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, PCA, Phospholipids, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, PEG-20 Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Ethoxydiglycol, Lecithin, Glucose, Lactic Acid, Triethanolamine, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Diazolidinyl Urea 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. 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. Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. Its main roles are: Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it. Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy. Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly. The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels. Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5. The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water. Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane. What it does: Dimethicone comes in different viscosities: Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties. Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity. This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient. Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy. Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air. This ingredient mainly works behind the sce