Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum Versus Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide

Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum Versus Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum versus Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Retinol and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Ceramide NP to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. 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 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 Water Glycerin Butylene Glycol Pentylene Glycol Niacinamide Cetyl Alcohol Isohexadecane Isononyl Isononanoate Diisopropyl Sebacate 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester Adenosine Ceramide NP Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine Lauroyl Lysine Octyldodecanol Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate Sodium Chloride Sodium Hyaluronate Sodium Hydroxide Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Tocopherol Dicaprylyl Ether Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate Behenyl Alcohol Caprylyl Glycol Carbomer Cetearyl Alcohol Cetearyl Glucoside Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Hydroxyethylcellulose Lecithin Phenethyl Alcohol Poloxamer 188 Polycaprolactone Sorbitan Laurate Steareth-100 CI 40800 Chlorphenesin Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Adenosine, Ceramide NP, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Lauroyl Lysine, Octyldodecanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Retinol, Tocopherol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Behenyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lecithin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Poloxamer 188, Polycaprolactone, Sorbitan Laurate, Steareth-100, CI 40800, Chlorphenesin, 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. 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 concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU. Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages. Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon. Retinol is one of the most studied anti-aging ingredients in skincare (and for good reason!). It's a form of vitamin A that your skin converts into Retinoic Acid, the active molecule that actually does the work in your cells. That conversion happens in two steps: your skin first turns Retinol into Retinaldehyde (also called Retinal), then turns Retinaldehyde into Retinoic Acid. Retinol is converted to biologically active retinoic acid via retinaldehyde by dehydrogenases in a two-step oxidation process. Each step is a little "upgrade" toward the active form which is part of why Retinol is gentler than prescription Retinoic Acid; your skin does the work gradually. This also explains where Retinol sits in the retinoid family. Here is the retinoid famil