Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer Versus Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer

Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer Versus Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer Detailed comparison of Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer versus Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulate

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Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer Versus Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer Detailed comparison of Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer versus Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Hyaluronic Acid to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Allantoin to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness. Water Squalane Glycerin Pentylene Glycol Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate Glyceryl Stearate Stearyl Alcohol Hyaluronic Acid Ceramide EOP Ceramide Ng Ceramide NP Ceramide As Ceramide AP Carnosine Hydrogenated Lecithin Phytosterols Caprylyl Glycol Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11 1,2-Hexanediol Water, Squalane, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Carnosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosterols, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, 1,2-Hexanediol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Stearic Acid Triheptanoin C13-16 Isoalkane Butylene Glycol Propanediol Inulin Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Ethylhexyl Stearate Sodium Hydroxide Allantoin Sodium Phytate Ethylhexylglycerin Hexylene Glycol Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide Glycogen Laminaria Digitata Extract Albatrellus Confluens Extract Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract Galactoarabinan Citric Acid Maltodextrin Schizophyllan Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Phenoxyethanol Potassium Sorbate Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Triheptanoin, C13-16 Isoalkane, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Inulin, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Squalane, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Glycogen, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Albatrellus Confluens Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Galactoarabinan, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Schizophyllan, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate 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. Glyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive. Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture. This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic. A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier. Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range. Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally. Squalane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum). It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores. This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces. Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer. Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This st