Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream Moisturizer Versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Replenishing Moisturizer
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPalmitic Acid
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventHexyldecanol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingBoerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantTasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTriolein
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentBisabolol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientMyristic Acid
CleansingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Stearic Acid
CleansingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Palmitic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Propanediol, Hexyldecanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Tocopherol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Caprylyl Glycol, Triolein, Maltodextrin, Bisabolol, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Myristic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hydroxystearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantGlycerin
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Linoleate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantLinoleic Acid
CleansingLinolenic Acid
CleansingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantHydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningRosa Moschata Seed Oil
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingTrisodium EDTA
Batyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialBenzoic Acid
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeWater, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium PCA, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Allantoin, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Polysorbate 20, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Sodium Citrate, Trisodium EDTA, Batyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateGlycerin (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.
Learn more about GlycerinSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water