Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Dermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment versus Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment .
Published on February 15, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe facial treatments. They have a total of 14 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain ceramides, hyaluronic acid, peptides, retinoid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Price
Ingredient Info
Dermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment 34 ingredients
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment 54 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Dermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment 34 ingredients
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment 54 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Dermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment 34 ingredients
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment 54 ingredients
Water • Cyclopentasiloxane • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Cetyl Alcohol • Glycerin • Cetearyl Alcohol • Glyceryl Stearate • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 • Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 • Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 • Lactic Acid • Sodium Hyaluronate • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract • Tocopherol • Ascorbyl Palmitate • Ascorbic Acid • Retinol • Ceramide NP • Dimethicone • Dimethiconol • Isohexadecane • Sodium Caprylate • Polysorbate 80 • Ceteareth-20 • Carbomer • Polysorbate 20 • Butylene Glycol • Peg-8 • Hydrogenated Polyisobutene • Citric Acid • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Parfum
Water • Dimethicone • Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate • Isononyl Isononanoate • Butylene Glycol • Bakuchiol • Arachidyl Alcohol • Glyceryl Polymethacrylate • Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Behenyl Alcohol • Glycerin • Peg-75 Shea Butter Glycerides • Glyceryl Stearate • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Polysorbate 20 • Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate • Retinol • Ceramide Ng • Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 • Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 • Sodium Hyaluronate • Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Avena Sativa Kernel Extract • Arctium Lappa Root Extract • Salix Alba Bark Extract • Glycine Soja Sterols • Lecithin • Allantoin • Tocopheryl Acetate • Hydrolyzed Soy Protein • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 • Sodium Hydroxide • Tribehenin • Caprylyl Glycol • Dipeptide-2 • Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract • Peg-10 Phytosterol • Peg-8 • Magnesium Aluminum Silicate • Arachidyl Glucoside • Chrysin • Pentylene Glycol • Sodium Acrylates Copolymer • Steareth-20 • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Cetearyl Alcohol • Coco-Glucoside • Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone • N-Hydroxysuccinimide • Disodium EDTA • Phenoxyethanol • Benzoic Acid • Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. 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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterDermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 1.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinDermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment contains this as ingredient number 5.
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 11.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment contains this as ingredient number 6.
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 47.
Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
Glyceryl Stearate is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced. The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateDermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment contains this as ingredient number 7.
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 13.
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is a 3-amino acid peptide. Peptides are building blocks for protein.
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is a signal peptide. This means it tells our skin to create collagen. Collagen is a protein that makes connective tissue. Boosting collagen production leads to a healthier skin barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier means having firm and hydrated skin.
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 can help reduce wrinkles and make the skin look more youthful.
Read more about other common types of peptides here:
Learn more about Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1Dermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment contains this as ingredient number 8.
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 32.
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 is a peptide. Peptides are building blocks for protein.
This ingredient consists of four amino acids and palmitic acid. These amino acids are arginine, proline, glutamine, and glycine.
This ingredient has many benefits. These benefits include boosting collagen production, fighting inflammation, and reversing UV damage.
By preventing our bodies from producing interleukins, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 helps fight inflammation. An interleukin is a chemical that signals to the body to produce an inflammatory response. Interleukin production is accelerated by UV radiation.
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 tells our body to create more collagen. Collagen is a protein that makes connective tissue. Boosting collagen production leads to a healthier skin barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier means having firm and hydrated skin.
Read more about other common types of peptides here:
Learn more about Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7Dermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment contains this as ingredient number 9.
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 19.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateDermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment contains this as ingredient number 12.
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 21.
Retinol is a form of Vitamin A and proven to help with anti-aging.
It promotes collagen production, increases new cell turnoever, and protects your skin as an antioxidant.
Retinol boosts collagen production and increases cell turnover. This makes retinol effective in removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Retinol is less effective when exposed to sun. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent.
Using retinol and retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few weeks of use. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolDermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment contains this as ingredient number 18.
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 17.
Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.
Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.
Dermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment contains this as ingredient number 20.
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 2.
Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.
Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.
The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.
Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Dermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment contains this as ingredient number 27.
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 15.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
Dermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment contains this as ingredient number 28.
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 5.
PEG-8 is a synthetic polymer used as a humectant and solvent.
This ingredient is able to help dissolve active ingredients, including water. This gives it humectant properties.
It is soluble in water. The number '8' stands for the molecular weight of the ingredient.
Learn more about Peg-8Dermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment contains this as ingredient number 29.
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 39.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Dermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment contains this as ingredient number 32.
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 52.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Dermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment contains this as ingredient number 33.
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 54.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Dermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment 34 ingredients
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment 54 ingredients
Usage
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When to use
Dermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment 34 ingredients
Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment 54 ingredients
Reviews
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Dermelect Empower Anti-wrinkle Treatment 34 ingredients
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