The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides Versus Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides Versus Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer Detailed comparison of The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides versus Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Linoleic Acid and Urea to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Butyrospermum Parkii Butter and Linoleic Acid to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. Water Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Cetyl Ethylhexanoate Isodecyl Neopentanoate Glycerin Propanediol Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate Isosorbide Dicaprylate Disteardimonium Hectorite Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides Glycosphingolipids Glycolipids Linoleic Acid Oleic Acid Palmitic Acid Stearic Acid Arginine Glycine Alanine Serine Proline Threonine Glutamic Acid Lysine Hcl Betaine Xylitylglucoside Anhydroxylitol Xylitol Glucose Maltose Fructose Trehalose Sodium PCA PCA Sodium Lactate Urea Allantoin Sodium Hyaluronate Lecithin Triolein Dimethyl Isosorbide Pentylene Glycol Tocopherol Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone Citric Acid Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Magnesium Sulfate Sodium Chloride Sodium Hydroxide Phenoxyethanol Chlorphenesin Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Glycosphingolipids, Glycolipids, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Arginine, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Proline, Threonine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Betaine, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Glucose, Maltose, Fructose, Trehalose, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Triolein, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Ceteareth-6 Olivate Butylene Glycol C13-15 Alkane Glyceryl Stearate Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate Decyl Oleate Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil Olea Europaea Fruit Oil Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil Borago Officinalis Seed Oil Hydrogenated Olive Oil Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil Linolenic Acid Euterpe Oleracea Sterols Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Ceramide NP Squalane Cholesterol Phytosphingosine Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract Adenosine Phytic Acid Pullulan Carbomer Sodium Polyacrylate Starch Sclerotium Gum Xanthan Gum Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Ethylhexylglycerin Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ceteareth-6 Olivate, Butylene Glycol, C13-15 Alkane, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Decyl Oleate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Euterpe Oleracea Sterols, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Proline, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Squalane, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Alanine is an amino acid and is already found in the human body. Our skin uses alanine to build collagen, elastin, and keratin. Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources. It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy. Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces. A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks. Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis. One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies. Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne. Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration. Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte. Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even. Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability. Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine. Glutamic Acid is an amino acid that is found in all living organisms. Our bodies use this to help nerve cells in the brain communicate with other cells. In cosmetics, glutamic acid is a famous humectant. It draws water from the air to your skin, keeping your skin hydrated (like hyaluronic acid). An in-vitro study from 2024 found glutamic acid to play a role in inhibiting inflammation and thus a potential skin-soothing ingredient. Other studies show it to be have potential wound healing, skin barrier repair, and hair growth properties. Glutamic acid has poor solubility in water and other solvents. Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum. Topically, glycerin does several things at once: Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or