Urban Skin Vitamin C Brighten & Glow Enzyme Mask Versus Paula's Choice Oil-Absorbing Mask

Urban Skin Vitamin C Brighten & Glow Enzyme Mask Versus Paula's Choice Oil-Absorbing Mask Detailed comparison of Urban Skin Vitamin C Brighten & Glow Enzyme Mask versus Paula's Choice Oil-Absorbing Mask. This wash off mask is formulated around Lactic Acid to exfoliate and smooth skin. This wash off mask is made with Kaolin and Bentonite for a rinse-off oil-control boost. Water Glycerin Polysorbate 60 Lactic Acid Glycolic Acid Sodium Hydroxide Pvp Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides Kojic Acid Niacinamide Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Hydroxyacetophenone Xanthan Gum Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract 1,2-Hexanediol Caprylyl Glycol Ricinus Communis Seed Oil Sclerotium Gum Lecithin Pullulan Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Glycine Soja Oil Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract Tocopherol Sodium Hyaluronate Citrus Limon Juice Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Retinyl Palmitate Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract Bixa Orellana Seed Oil Carica Papaya Seed Oil Alpha-Arbutin Glutathione Azelaic Acid Morus Alba Leaf Extract Oligopeptide-51 Water, Glycerin, Polysorbate 60, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Pvp, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides, Kojic Acid, Niacinamide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Pullulan, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycine Soja Oil, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Limon Juice, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Retinyl Palmitate, Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Carica Papaya Seed Oil, Alpha-Arbutin, Glutathione, Azelaic Acid, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Oligopeptide-51 Kaolin Bentonite Salix Alba Extract Stearic Acid Steareth-2 Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder Sea Whip Extract Colloidal Oatmeal Bisabolol Ascorbyl Palmitate Tocopheryl Acetate Phospholipids Panthenol Butylene Glycol Ethylhexylglycerin Hexylene Glycol Disodium EDTA Phenoxyethanol Water, Kaolin, Bentonite, Glycerin, Salix Alba Extract, Stearic Acid, Steareth-2, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Sea Whip Extract, Colloidal Oatmeal, Bisabolol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phospholipids, Panthenol, Retinyl Palmitate, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, 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. Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created. Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin. Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on). 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 your epidermis, via aquaporin-3. Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin. This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products. Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity. Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine. Retinyl Palmitate is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the superstar class of anti-aging ingredients that include Tretinoin and Retinol. This particular ingredient has had a bumpy year with its rise and fall in popularity. First, Retinyl Palmitate is created from Palmitic Acid and Retinol. It is a Retinol ester and considered one of the weaker forms of retinoid. This is because all retinoids have to be converted to Tretinoin, AKA Retinoic Acid. Retinyl Palmitate is pretty far down the line and has to go through multiple conversions before its effects are seen. Once it's on your skin, enzymes called esterases convert it into Retinol, then into Retinal, and finally into Retinoic Acid; that's three steps with a little lost at each one. The benefits of Retinyl Palmitate are debated due to this long and ineffective conversion line. So why use it at all? The answer is stability. Retinol and Retinoic Acid break down fast when they hit light, heat, and air, and Retinoic Acid can be pretty irritating on top of that. Retinyl Palmitate is much more stable and gentler, making it easier to formulate with and easier on sensitive skin (even if it's weaker gram for gram). Studies show Retinyl Palmitate to help: Newer research from 2023-2025 also found that Retinyl Palmitate works especially well when paired with Retinol. The two seem to cover each other's weak spots; retinol brings the potency while Retinyl Palmitate brings the stability and gentleness. Together, they repair UV damage better than either one does alone. This ingredient used to be found in sunscreens to bo