Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense Versus Paula's Choice Resist Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator

ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense Versus Paula's Choice Resist Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator Detailed comparison of ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense versus Paula's Choice Resist Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated

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

ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense Versus Paula's Choice Resist Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator Detailed comparison of ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense versus Paula's Choice Resist Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator. This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Laminaria Digitata Extract and Beta-Glucan to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and balance excess oil. Water Dicaprylyl Carbonate Cetearyl Isononanoate Glycerin Pentylene Glycol Cetearyl Alcohol Steareth-20 Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters Laminaria Digitata Extract Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract Marrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture Retinyl Palmitate Tocopheryl Acetate Tocopherol Micrococcus Lysate Caprylyl Glycol Hexylene Glycol Lactose Galactoarabinan Lecithin Schizophyllan Beta-Glucan 1,2-Hexanediol Carbomer Cellulose Maltodextrin C14-22 Alcohols Cetearyl Glucoside C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Disodium EDTA Sodium Hydroxide Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin Sodium Benzoate Parfum CI 77007 Limonene Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Steareth-20, Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Micrococcus Lysate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Lactose, Galactoarabinan, Lecithin, Schizophyllan, Beta-Glucan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Cellulose, Maltodextrin, C14-22 Alcohols, Cetearyl Glucoside, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, CI 77007, Limonene Cyclopentasiloxane Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate Cetyl Alcohol Niacinamide Dimethicone Butylene Glycol Glyceryl Stearate PEG-100 Stearate Adenosine Epigallocatechin Gallate Glucose Oxidase Lactoperoxidase Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract Lactobacillus Polysilicone-11 Sodium Chloride Potassium Thiocyanate Glucose Xanthan Gum Ceteareth-20 Decyl Glucoside Citric Acid Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Cetyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Adenosine, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Glucose Oxidase, Lactoperoxidase, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus, Polysilicone-11, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Thiocyanate, Glucose, Xanthan Gum, Ceteareth-20, Decyl Glucoside, Citric Acid, 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. Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier. Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient. It plays several roles in a formula: Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products. Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people. However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers. Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy. Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans. Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients. This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize. A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe. 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 mic