Vichy Normaderm Anti-Acne Double-Action Moisturizer Versus Paula's Choice Calm Repairing Serum

Vichy Normaderm Anti-Acne Double-Action Moisturizer Versus Paula's Choice Calm Repairing Serum Detailed comparison of Vichy Normaderm Anti-Acne Double-Action Moisturizer versus Paula's Choice Calm Repairing Serum. This acne moisturizer is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Bifida Ferment Lysate to clear breakouts and balance excess oil. This calming serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Ceramide NP to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier. Salicylic Acid 2% Water Glycerin Isononyl Isononanoate Butylene Glycol Kaolin Zinc Sulfate Bifida Ferment Lysate Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Polyacrylate Sodium Hyaluronate Sodium Benzoate Phenoxyethanol Ascorbyl Glucoside Hydrolyzed Algin Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Biosaccharide Gum-1 Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Parfum Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Kaolin, Zinc Sulfate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Algin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Polysorbate 20 Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride PEG/PPG-14/4 Dimethicone Xanthan Gum Disodium EDTA Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids Ceramide NP Ethylhexylglycerin Epilobium Angustifolium Extract Ceramide AP Cholesterol Phytosphingosine Beta-Glucan Sarcosine Carbomer Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower Extract Sea Whip Extract Glycine Soja Seed Extract Hyaluronic Acid Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Ceramide EOP Magnesium Aspartate Potassium Aspartate Ubiquinone 1,2-Hexanediol Caprylyl Glycol Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate Calcium Chloride Propylene Glycol Tocopherol Sodium Metabisulfite Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate Potassium Sorbate Water, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG/PPG-14/4 Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Beta-Glucan, Sarcosine, Carbomer, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower Extract, Sea Whip Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ceramide EOP, Magnesium Aspartate, Potassium Aspartate, Ubiquinone, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Calcium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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. 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. Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically. Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed. Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase. It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda