Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US versus Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream .
Last updated on March 20, 2024. Published on September 10, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe facial treatments. They have a total of 15 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain ceramides, exfoliants, 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, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils
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
Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment 53 ingredients
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream 63 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 🎉
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 🎉
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 🎉
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 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
- Coco-Caprylate
- Stearic Acid
- Coconut Alkanes
- Glyceryl Stearate
- Cetearyl Alcohol
- Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
- Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
- Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
- Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
- Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
- Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
- Persea Gratissima Oil
- Linoleic Acid
- Linolenic Acid
- Jojoba Esters
- Glycine Soja Oil
- Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
- Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
- Cetyl Palmitate
- Lauric Acid
- Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
- Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
- Polysorbate 20
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
Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment 53 ingredients
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream 63 ingredients
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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.
Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment 53 ingredients
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream 63 ingredients
Water • Dimethicone • Glycerin • Butylene Glycol • Isononyl Isononanoate • Castor Isostearate Succinate • Glyceryl Stearate • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Peg-33 • Polysorbate 20 • Behenyl Alcohol • Peg-100 Stearate • Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate • Polymethylsilsesquioxane • Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate • Retinol • Ceramide Ng • Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 • Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 • Sodium Hyaluronate • Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Avena Sativa Kernel Extract • Arctium Lappa Seed Oil • Salix Alba Extract • Glycine Soja Sterols • Lecithin • Allantoin • Tocopheryl Acetate • Hydrolyzed Soy Protein • Sorbitan Laurate • Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester • Disodium EDTA • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 • Sodium Hydroxide • Tribehenin • Caprylyl Glycol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Pentylene Glycol • Peg-75 Shea Butter Glycerides • Ppg-12/Smdi Copolymer • Peg-10 Phytosterol • Peg-8 Dimethicone • Peg-14 • Magnesium Aluminum Silicate • Arachidyl Glucoside • Arachidyl Alcohol • Sclerotium Gum • Carbomer • Phenoxyethanol • Benzoic Acid
Water • Glycerin • Coco-Caprylate • Stearic Acid • Coconut Alkanes • Glyceryl Stearate • Niacinamide • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Cetearyl Alcohol • Pentylene Glycol • Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil • Retinol • Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil • Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil • Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil • Cetyl Ethylhexanoate • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 • Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 • Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract • Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract • Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate • Chrysin • Persea Gratissima Oil • Linoleic Acid • Linolenic Acid • Ceramide NP • Xanthophylls • Phytosphingosine • Phytosterols • Jojoba Esters • Physalis Pubescens Fruit Juice • Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate • Oryza Sativa Extract • Glycine Soja Oil • Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil • Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 • Cetyl Palmitate • Trehalose • Lauric Acid • Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer • Olea Europaea Fruit Oil • Glucosamine Hcl • Tocopheryl Acetate • Coco-Caprylate/Caprate • Pisum Sativum Extract • Tocopherol • Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract • Phenoxyethanol • Caprylyl Glycol • Carbomer • Trideceth-6 Phosphate • N-Hydroxysuccinimide • Ceteareth-20 • Sodium Hydroxide • Laureth-23 • Steareth-20 • Propanediol • Chlorhexidine Digluconate • Polysorbate 20 • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Chlorphenesin • Potassium Sorbate • 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 WaterPaula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US contains this as ingredient number 1.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream 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 GlycerinPaula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US contains this as ingredient number 3.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 2.
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 StearatePaula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US contains this as ingredient number 7.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 6.
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 20Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US contains this as ingredient number 11.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 59.
Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. 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 RetinolPaula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US contains this as ingredient number 17.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 12.
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-7Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US contains this as ingredient number 19.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 18.
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 isn't fungal acne safe and is a peptide.
Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US contains this as ingredient number 20.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 36.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetatePaula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US contains this as ingredient number 30.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 43.
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-1Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US contains this as ingredient number 36.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 17.
Sodium 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 HydroxidePaula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US contains this as ingredient number 37.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 54.
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 GlycolPaula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US contains this as ingredient number 39.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 49.
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.
Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US contains this as ingredient number 40.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 63.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPaula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US contains this as ingredient number 41.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 10.
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.
Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US contains this as ingredient number 51.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 50.
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.
Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US contains this as ingredient number 52.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream contains this as ingredient number 48.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment 53 ingredients
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream 63 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment 53 ingredients
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream 63 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment 53 ingredients
glasscasita
Love it
My favorite retinol. Been using it for a year and never had any bad reactions (be sure to follow instructions like starting slow). It's a...
Love it
My favorite retinol. Been using it for a year and never had any bad reactions (be sure to follow instructions like starting slow). It's a bit pricey but worth it
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream 63 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 4 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment US.
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