Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 0.25% Versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Booster

ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 0.25% Versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Booster Detailed comparison of ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 0.25% versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Booster. This brightening serum is formulated around Retinol and Ascorbyl

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

ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 0.25% Versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Booster Detailed comparison of ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 0.25% versus Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Booster. This brightening serum is formulated around Retinol and Ascorbyl Glucoside to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin. This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Retinol and Ceramide NP to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. Water Dimethicone Cetearyl Isononanoate Glycerin Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil Cetearyl Alcohol Steareth-20 Pentylene Glycol Ascorbyl Glucoside Cetyl Alcohol Acrylamide/Ammonium Acrylate Copolymer Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Propylheptyl Caprylate Bakuchiol Acetyl Glucosamine Cetearyl Glucoside Lecithin Polyisobutene Alcohol Glutathione Carbomer Caprylyl Glycol Bisabolol 1,2-Hexanediol Silica Polysorbate 20 Retinol Polysorbate 80 Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate Disodium EDTA Sorbitan Isostearate Gluconolactone Tocopheryl Acetate Sodium Sulfite Sodium Metabisulfite Ascorbyl Palmitate BHT Soy Isoflavones Sodium Hydroxide Potassium Sorbate Sodium Benzoate Linalool Citronellol Geraniol Limonene Citral Coumarin Water, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Steareth-20, Pentylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Cetyl Alcohol, Acrylamide/Ammonium Acrylate Copolymer, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Bakuchiol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Cetearyl Glucoside, Lecithin, Polyisobutene, Alcohol, Glutathione, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Bisabolol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Polysorbate 80, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Gluconolactone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Metabisulfite, Ascorbyl Palmitate, BHT, Soy Isoflavones, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Citral, Coumarin Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate/Caprate Butylene Glycol Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Ceramide NP Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Epilobium Angustifolium Extract Arctium Lappa Seed Oil Salix Alba Extract Allantoin Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate Ethylhexyl Olivate Hydrogenated Lecithin Glyceryl Ascorbate Sorbic Acid Xanthan Gum Phenoxyethanol Water, Glycerin, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate/Caprate, Butylene Glycol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root, Ceramide NP, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Arctium Lappa Seed Oil, Salix Alba Extract, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Ascorbate, Disodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Xanthan Gum, 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). Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air. This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with: On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it. One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin). Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption. You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%. 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. Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable. It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better. The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane. Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins). True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics. Because it is derived