Obagi Retinol 1.0 Versus Paula's Choice Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment with 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe facial treatments. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, sensitive skin, 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 needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Obagi Retinol 1.0 39 ingredients
Paula's Choice Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment with 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide 14 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Obagi Retinol 1.0 39 ingredients
Paula's Choice Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment with 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide 14 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Hypericum Perforatum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMalva Sylvestris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Masking
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Triethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polysorbate 60, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Dimethicone, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Flower Extract, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sorbitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Ubiquinone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propylene Glycol, BHT, Bisabolol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterPropylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may develop a rash when using this ingredient.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolBisabolol is famous for its skin soothing properties. It does this by blocking inflammatory signals, helping to reduce your body's reaction to irritation.
This ingredient also interferes with the process of hyperpigmentation. This can help with reducing dark spots and uneven tone.
Bisabolol is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. By fighting these free-radicals, Bisabolol may slow down signs of aging.
Studies have shown Bisabolol to have antimicrobial properties and may be a fungicide. These properties help preserve a product's shelf life.
All these properties makes bisabolol a great skin barrier helper ingredient.
Bisabolol also helps the absorption of other ingredients.
Note: Synthetic Bisabolol has been shown to be less effective.
Learn more about BisabololDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTACaprylyl 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 GlycolHexylene 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Obagi Retinol 1.0 39 ingredients
Paula's Choice Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment with 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide 14 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Obagi Retinol 1.0 39 ingredients
Paula's Choice Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment with 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide 14 ingredients
genuinely stabilized my acne, don’t get much too any breakouts anymore and i have oily acne prone skin (only con would be that it has lightened my skin over time)
Effective at fighting acne without lots of irritation
