Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment Versus SkinMedica Rejuvenative Moisturizer

Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment Versus SkinMedica Rejuvenative Moisturizer Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment versus SkinMedica Rejuvenative Moisturizer. This smoothing moisturizer is formulated around Retinol and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to refine skin texture and soften the look of wrinkles. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Tocopheryl Acetate and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. 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 Diglycerin Isostearyl Behenate Phytosterols Tocopherol Tocotrienols Squalene Oryza Sativa Bran Cera Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Algae Extract Bisabolol Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Sodium Hyaluronate Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate Retinyl Palmitate Glyceryl Polyacrylate Ceteareth-20 Caprylyl Methicone Carbomer Tromethamine Potassium Sorbate Ethylhexylglycerin Parfum Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Diglycerin, Isostearyl Behenate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Phytosterols, Tocopherol, Tocotrienols, Squalene, Oryza Sativa Bran Cera, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Algae Extract, Bisabolol, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Retinyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Caprylyl Methicone, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum 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. This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients. Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL). In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!). Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity. While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize. 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%. Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier. Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient. It plays several roles in a formula: Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25%