Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

VT Cosmetics Cica Reti-A Essence 0.1 Versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment

VT Cosmetics Cica Reti-A Essence 0.1 Versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment Detailed comparison of VT Cosmetics Cica Reti-A Essence 0.1 versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US. This anti-aging essence is formulated around Niacinamide and Hydroxypinac

This source-based comparison does not add ratings or recommend a winner.

VT Cosmetics Cica Reti-A Essence 0.1 Versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment Detailed comparison of VT Cosmetics Cica Reti-A Essence 0.1 versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US. This anti-aging essence is formulated around Niacinamide and Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Retinol and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. Water Butylene Glycol Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin) 1,2-Hexanediol Niacinamide Cetyl Ethylhexanoate Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate Dimethyl Isosorbide Glyceryl Stearate Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil Behenyl Alcohol Dimethicone Cetearyl Alcohol Stearic Acid Betaine Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate Carbomer Tromethamine Polyacrylate-13 Ethylhexylglycerin Centella Asiatica Extract Adenosine Polyisobutene Sodium Hyaluronate Allantoin Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract Gluconolactone Bakuchiol Capryloyl Salicylic Acid Polysorbate 20 Sorbitan Isostearate Ceramide NP Retinol BHT Propolis Extract Madecassoside Asiaticoside Asiatic Acid Madecassic Acid Disodium EDTA Parfum Water, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Betaine, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Polyacrylate-13, Ethylhexylglycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Adenosine, Polyisobutene, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Gluconolactone, Bakuchiol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ceramide NP, Retinol, BHT, Propolis Extract, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Parfum Glycerin Isononyl Isononanoate Castor Isostearate Succinate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Dimethicone Crosspolymer PEG-33 PEG-100 Stearate Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate Polymethylsilsesquioxane Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Ceramide Ng Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Arctium Lappa Seed Oil Salix Alba Extract Glycine Soja Sterols Lecithin Tocopheryl Acetate Hydrolyzed Soy Protein Sorbitan Laurate Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester Hydroxyethylcellulose Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Sodium Hydroxide Tribehenin Caprylyl Glycol Pentylene Glycol PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer PEG-10 Phytosterol PEG-8 Dimethicone PEG-14 Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Arachidyl Glucoside Arachidyl Alcohol Sclerotium Gum Phenoxyethanol Benzoic Acid Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Castor Isostearate Succinate, Glyceryl Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-33, Polysorbate 20, Behenyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Retinol, Ceramide Ng, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Arctium Lappa Seed Oil, Salix Alba Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, Lecithin, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Sorbitan Laurate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcell These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics. Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity. Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation. It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh. Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated. This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%. Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating. Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism. Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols). Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils. Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in. In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores. Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons: Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients. Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness. Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture. Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%. It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier. Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%. A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions. Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimeth