Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol Versus Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol Versus Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol versus Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex S

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Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol Versus Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol versus Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Tocopherol and Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin. This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Linoleic Acid and Linolenic Acid to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. Cyclopentasiloxane Dimethicone C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Olea Europaea Fruit Oil Tocopherol Retinol Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Bisabolol Tocotrienols Adenosine Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract Stearyl Dimethicone Astaxanthin Glycine Soja Oil Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Oenothera Biennis Oil Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil Elaeis Guineensis Oil Sd Alcohol 40 Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Retinol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Bisabolol, Tocotrienols, Adenosine, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Stearyl Dimethicone, Astaxanthin, Glycine Soja Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Sd Alcohol 40 Water Glycerin Diheptyl Succinate Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil Linoleic Acid Linolenic Acid Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil Ceramide EOP Ceramide Eos Ceramide NP Ceramide Ns Caprooyl Sphingosine Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables Caprooyl Phytosphingosine Sodium Hyaluronate Cholesterol Ceramide AP Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Prunus Domestica Seed Oil Lauryl Laurate Glyceryl Behenate Hydrogenated Lecithin Sodium Phytate Trehalose Isohexadecane Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer Xanthan Gum Cetyl Alcohol Agar Glyceryl Stearate Ceteareth-25 Cetearyl Alcohol Behenic Acid Glyceryl Rosinate Citric Acid Benzyl Alcohol Ethylhexylglycerin Water, Glycerin, Diheptyl Succinate, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Ceramide AP, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Lauryl Laurate, Glyceryl Behenate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Phytate, Trehalose, Isohexadecane, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Agar, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteareth-25, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenic Acid, Glyceryl Rosinate, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C. THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!). Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface. Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun. Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin. A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier). While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better. THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady! Read more about other types of Vitamin C: Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E. You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells. Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes. It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks. This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage. This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there. In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading. Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.