Paula's Choice Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer Versus Grown Alchemist Regenerating Night Cream Neuro-Peptide, Violet Leaf Extract
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning2,3-Butanediol
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Ceramide Ag
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingTrehalose
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Urea
Buffering
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Triacetin
AntimicrobialSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, 2,3-Butanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cocoglycerides, Ceramide Ag, Ceramide NP, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide AP, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Hexylene Glycol, Trehalose, Cholesterol, Squalane, Sodium Phytate, Urea, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium PCA, Polyquaternium-51, Triacetin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingKhaya Senegalensis Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingOligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningCananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Viola Odorata Leaf Extract
MaskingSantalum Spicata Wood Oil
Perfuming
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Illicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil
Masking
Myroxylon Pereirae Oil
Masking
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Khaya Senegalensis Bark Extract, Oligopeptide-1, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Wheat Amino Acids, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Viola Odorata Leaf Extract, Santalum Spicata Wood Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Illicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil, Myroxylon Pereirae Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Farnesol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan 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 Gum
