Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Moisturizer for Normal to Oily Skin Versus iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream
Updated on July 18, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
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 Calm Redness Relief Moisturizer for Normal to Oily Skin 26 ingredients
iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream 31 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Moisturizer for Normal to Oily Skin 26 ingredients
iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream 31 ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Bis-Phenylpropyl Dimethicone
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Arctium Majus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Phenylpropyl Dimethicone, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Beta-Glucan, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Isohexadecane, Sodium Carbomer, Polysorbate 80, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
Antimicrobial
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Medicago Sativa Extract
TonicBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentTriticum Vulgare Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Extract
Skin ConditioningRaphanus Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingCentella Asiatica Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Methyl Trimethicone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Centella Asiatica Extract, Allantoin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Medicago Sativa Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Brassica Campestris Extract, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
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 WaterButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractAllantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.
Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.
Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Learn more about AllantoinDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeThis ingredient is a silicone used to improve the texture of products and absorb oil. It does not get absorbed into the skin.
Like other silicones, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer helps condition the skin by creating a barrier. In this sense, it can act as an emollient and trap moisture in.
This ingredient is a type of elastomer.
Learn more about Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerSodium 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 HyaluronateEthylhexylglycerin (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.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Moisturizer for Normal to Oily Skin 26 ingredients
iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream 31 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Paula's Choice Calm Redness Relief Moisturizer for Normal to Oily Skin 26 ingredients
iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream 31 ingredients
Not for combo skin
Disclaimer: I have combo skin that tends to be dry in my cheeks and oily everywhere else. I also have eczema on my cheeks.
This moisturizer absorbs really nicely. I love how it doesn't feel like there's anything on my skin and how it doesn't leave my skin sticky. It's a nice moisturizer. However, for me it makes my nose/ cheek area feel a little tight. Overall I like it and Show more
I find it's a pretty good moisturizer for very oily skin and leaves the skin quite fresh and reduces redness and irritation quite well. I would personally only use it in the morning before a sunscreen, but not at night, as it's not sufficiently moisturizing for my combination skin.
