Paula's Choice Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer - EU Versus FaceTheory Retinol Firming Moisturiser 0.3% - Mandarin
Updated on April 10, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones 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 needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Paula's Choice Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer 35 ingredients
FaceTheory Retinol Firming Moisturiser 0.3% 29 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
Paula's Choice Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer 35 ingredients
FaceTheory Retinol Firming Moisturiser 0.3% 29 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
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
EmollientSodium 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
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Stearic Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Retinol, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glyceryl Caprylate, Xanthan Gum, Phospholipids, Tocopherol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Phytate, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter is a plant lipid from the fruit of the Shea Tree. It is an effective skin hydrator and emollient.
Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. It does this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Shea butter is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may harm the body. It is also full of fatty acids including stearic acid and linoleic acid. These acids help replenish the skin and keep skin moisturized.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
Shea butter may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterGlycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
It 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.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateSodium 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 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.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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. 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 GumIngredient Ratings
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When to use
Paula's Choice Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizer 35 ingredients
FaceTheory Retinol Firming Moisturiser 0.3% 29 ingredients
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