Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Fourth Ray Beauty Renew Retinol Bakuchiol Face Serum versus Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum .
Published on December 26, 2022
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
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 and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Price
Ingredient Info
Fourth Ray Beauty Renew Retinol Bakuchiol Face Serum 28 ingredients
Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum 29 ingredients
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 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
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
Fourth Ray Beauty Renew Retinol Bakuchiol Face Serum 28 ingredients
Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum 29 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:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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.
Fourth Ray Beauty Renew Retinol Bakuchiol Face Serum 28 ingredients
Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum 29 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Polysorbate 20 • Isododecane • Propanediol • Retinol • Bakuchiol • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract • Sucrose Laurate • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11 • Caprylyl Glycol • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Trisodium EDTA • Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer • Inulin Lauryl Carbamate • Citric Acid • Behentrimonium Chloride • Potassium Sorbate • Xanthan Gum • Benzoic Acid • Dehydroacetic Acid • Disodium EDTA • Ethylhexylglycerin • Hexylene Glycol • Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Phenoxyethanol • CI 60730 • CI 14700
Water • Niacinamide • Glycerin • Tranexamic Acid • C13-15 Alkane • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Dicaprylyl Carbonate • Ethyl Macadamiate • Behenyl Alcohol • Glyceryl Stearate • Butylene Glycol • Silybum Marianum Seed Oil • Tocopherol • Lactobacillus/Coconut Fruit Juice Ferment Filtrate • Lecithin • Bakuchiol • Xanthan Gum • Caprylyl Glycol • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Allantoin • Glycine Soja Oil • Hexylene Glycol • Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract • Glycine Soja Sterols • Citric Acid • Sodium Phytate • Malic Acid • Phenoxyethanol • 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 WaterFourth Ray Beauty Renew Retinol Bakuchiol Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum 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 GlycerinFourth Ray Beauty Renew Retinol Bakuchiol Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant (it's vegan!). It is often called the replacement for retinol although it is not part of the same family.
It has similar effects as retinol: skin smoothing, reducing discoloration, and preventing wrinkles. It does not cause as much irritation as traditional retinoids.
Bakuchiol works by breaking down free radicals and stimulating collagen production in skin.
Combining bakuchiol with retinol will not have adverse side effects. Studies show using them will just boost the benefits. Bakuchiol is also found to help stabilize retinol.
While bakuchiol does not make the skin more sun sensitive, we recommend wearing SPF on a daily basis.
Read more about traditional retinol
Learn more about BakuchiolFourth Ray Beauty Renew Retinol Bakuchiol Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.
Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolFourth Ray Beauty Renew Retinol Bakuchiol Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.
Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideFourth Ray Beauty Renew Retinol Bakuchiol Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.
Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidFourth Ray Beauty Renew Retinol Bakuchiol Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.
Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum contains this as ingredient number 25.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumFourth Ray Beauty Renew Retinol Bakuchiol Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.
Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.
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.
Fourth Ray Beauty Renew Retinol Bakuchiol Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.
Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum contains this as ingredient number 29.
Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant. Glycols are a class of alcohols. Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, Hexylene Glycol helps gather dirt and oil on your skin to be washed away.
As an emulsifier, Hexylene Glycol helps keep water and oil together. This prevents them from separating in a product. Hexylene Glycol also thins out the texture of a product by lessening viscosity.
Hexylene Glycol has a small molecular weight.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolFourth Ray Beauty Renew Retinol Bakuchiol Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 24.
Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum contains this as ingredient number 22.
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.
Fourth Ray Beauty Renew Retinol Bakuchiol Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.
Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum contains this as ingredient number 28.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Fourth Ray Beauty Renew Retinol Bakuchiol Face Serum 28 ingredients
Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum 29 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Fourth Ray Beauty Renew Retinol Bakuchiol Face Serum 28 ingredients
Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum 29 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Fourth Ray Beauty Renew Retinol Bakuchiol Face Serum.
See 50 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum.
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