Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Makeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 versus Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum .
Published on September 12, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 16 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain ceramides and hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, 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
Makeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 27 ingredients
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum 29 ingredients
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 🎉
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 🎉
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
Makeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 27 ingredients
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum 29 ingredients
Benefits
This product contains 6 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 6 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients 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:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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.
Makeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 27 ingredients
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum 29 ingredients
Water • Squalane • Glycerin • Cetyl Alcohol • Ethoxydiglycol • Glyceryl Stearate • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Bakuchiol • Ubiquinone • Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 • Palmitoyl Oligopeptide • Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Sodium Hyaluronate • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Phytosphingosine • Cholesterol • Ceramide EOP • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Polysorbate 20 • Carbomer • Butylene Glycol • Sodium Caprylate • Xanthan Gum • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin
Water • Glycerin • Hyaluronic Acid • Beta-Glucan • Sea Whip Extract • Sodium Hyaluronate • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Cholesterol • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract • Phytosphingosine • Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids • Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower Extract • Glycine Soja Seed Extract • Ubiquinone • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Magnesium Aspartate • Potassium Aspartate • Sarcosine • Xanthan Gum • Carbomer • Polysorbate 20 • Peg/Ppg-14/4 Dimethicone • Disodium EDTA • Ethylhexylglycerin • Phenoxyethanol
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 WaterMakeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing 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 GlycerinMakeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 contains this as ingredient number 3.
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
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 TriglycerideMakeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 contains this as ingredient number 7.
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.
Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10) is a molecule already found in our bodies. It is a potent antioxidant and skin-soothing ingredient.
Aging and environmental exposure diminishes our skin's natural ubiquinone levels. This is much like our natural collagen and elastin.
The good news is: studies show applying this ingredient topically replenishes ubiquinone levels in our skin. This also comes with a ton of skin benefits. These benefits include:
Ubiquinone is considered a large molecule and cannot be absorbed into the lower layers of skin. This is why it is believed to be such an effective antioxidant: it protects our skin in the upper layers and prevents damage in the deeper layers.
When used in sunscreen, ubiquinone is shown to increase ingredient stability, increase SPF factor, and add to infrared protection.
Fun fact: ubiquinone is fat-soluble.
Learn more about UbiquinoneMakeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 contains this as ingredient number 9.
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.
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 HyaluronateMakeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 contains this as ingredient number 14.
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
Ceramide NP is a type of ceramide.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.
Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A stronger barrier helps the skin look more firm and hydrated. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.
If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.
Read more about other common types of ceramides here: Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP
Learn more about Ceramide NPMakeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 contains this as ingredient number 15.
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.
Ceramide AP is a type of Ceramide.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. Having a strong skin barrier leads to more firm and hydrated skin.
They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.
If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.
Read more about other common types of ceramides here: Ceramide NP Ceramide EOP
Learn more about Ceramide APMakeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 contains this as ingredient number 16.
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.
Phytosphingosine is a phospholipid naturally found in our skin. It helps moisturize, soothe, and protect skin.
Phytosphingosine is already present in our skin. On our skin, it is a building block for ceramides.
Phytosphingosine tells our skin to increase its natural moisturizing factor (NMF). The NMF is responsible for hydration, a strong barrier, and plasticity. Our NMF decreases with age. Increasing NMF leads to more healthy and hydrated skin.
Studies show products formulated with NMF ingredients help strengthen our skin's barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier reduces irritation and increases hydration. Our skin barrier is responsible for having plump and firm skin. It also helps protect our skin against infection, allergies, and inflammation.
Phytosphingosine is also abundant in plants and fungi.
More ingredients that help boost collagen in skin:
Learn more about PhytosphingosineMakeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 contains this as ingredient number 17.
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.
Cholesterol is a class of organic molecules called lipids. It helps hydrate your skin and is essential to having a healthy skin barrier.
Our skin naturally contains cholesterol in the outermost layer. Besides cholesterol, it also contains ceramides and fatty acids. Cholesterol makes up about 1/4 of your skin's outer layer and barrier. Your skin barrier is responsible for keeping allergens and microbes out. Having a healthy skin barrier is also responsible for keeping your skin firm and plump.
Our bodies use cholestrol to create vitamin D, steroid hormones, and more.
Learn more about CholesterolMakeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 contains this as ingredient number 18.
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
Ceramide EOP is a type of Ceramide. EOP stands for a linked Ester fatty acid, a linked Omega hydroxy fatty acid, and the Phytosphingosine base.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.
Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A stronger barrier helps the skin look more firm and hydrated. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.
If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.
Read more about other common types of ceramides here: Ceramide AP Ceramide NP
Learn more about Ceramide EOPMakeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 contains this as ingredient number 19.
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate is the lauric acid sodium salt of lactyl lactate.
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate is an emulsifier and surfactant.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. They do this by preventing ingredients from separating, such as oils and water which do not mix naturally. Surfactants reduce surface tension, making it easier to rinse pollutants off skin.
Due to its relation to lauric acid, it may provide antimicrobial benefits.
Learn more about Sodium Lauroyl LactylateMakeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 contains this as ingredient number 20.
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.
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 20Makeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 contains this as ingredient number 21.
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum contains this as ingredient number 25.
Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.
Carbomer is commonly found in many types of cosmetics products. It is found to be safe in concentrations up to 15%. However, a high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Most products contain 1% of less of carbomer.
Makeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 contains this as ingredient number 22.
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum contains this as ingredient number 24.
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 GumMakeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 contains this as ingredient number 25.
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.
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.
Makeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 contains this as ingredient number 26.
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum contains this as ingredient number 29.
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.
Makeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 contains this as ingredient number 27.
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum contains this as ingredient number 28.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Makeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 27 ingredients
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum 29 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Makeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 27 ingredients
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum 29 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Makeup Artist's Choice Transforming Anti Aging Serum V2 27 ingredients
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum 29 ingredients
Alternatives
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See 50 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Repairing Serum.
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