Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer versus Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum .
Last updated on December 05, 2023. Published on December 26, 2020
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 15 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain ceramides and hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances and oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
General Moisturizer
All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Price
Ingredient Info
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer 54 ingredients
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum 42 ingredients
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:
- Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
- Glyceryl Stearate
- Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate
- Decyl Oleate
- Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
- Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
- Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
- Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
- Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
- Hydrogenated Olive Oil
- Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
- Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
- Linoleic Acid
- Linolenic Acid
- Oleic Acid
- Arginine
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 🎉
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
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:
- Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
- Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
- Linoleic Acid
- Linolenic Acid
- Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
- Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
- Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables
- Prunus Domestica Seed Oil
- Lauryl Laurate
- Glyceryl Behenate
- Glyceryl Stearate
- Cetearyl Alcohol
- Behenic Acid
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer 54 ingredients
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum 42 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 10 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 6 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 9 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 7 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 7 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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 Omega+ Complex Moisturizer 54 ingredients
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum 42 ingredients
Water • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Ceteareth-6 Olivate • Butylene Glycol • C13-15 Alkane • Glycerin • Glyceryl Stearate • Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate • Decyl Oleate • Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil • Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil • Olea Europaea Fruit Oil • Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil • Borago Officinalis Seed Oil • Hydrogenated Olive Oil • Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract • Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables • Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil • Linoleic Acid • Linolenic Acid • Oleic Acid • Euterpe Oleracea Sterols • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Ceramide NP • Serine • Alanine • Glycine • Proline • Lysine Hcl • Threonine • Arginine • Squalane • Cholesterol • Phytosphingosine • Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract • Lecithin • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sodium Lactate • Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract • Adenosine • Phytic Acid • Glutamic Acid • Betaine • Pullulan • PCA • Sodium PCA • Carbomer • Sodium Polyacrylate Starch • Sclerotium Gum • Xanthan Gum • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin
Water • Glycerin • Diheptyl Succinate • Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters • Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil • Linoleic Acid • Linolenic Acid • Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil • Ceramide EOP • Ceramide Eos • Ceramide NP • Ceramide Ns • Caprooyl Sphingosine • Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables • Caprooyl Phytosphingosine • Sodium Hyaluronate • Cholesterol • Ceramide AP • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables • Tocopherol • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Prunus Domestica Seed Oil • Lauryl Laurate • Glyceryl Behenate • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Sodium Phytate • Trehalose • Isohexadecane • Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate • Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer • Xanthan Gum • Cetyl Alcohol • Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate • Agar • Glyceryl Stearate • Ceteareth-25 • Cetearyl Alcohol • Behenic Acid • Glyceryl Rosinate • Citric Acid • Benzyl Alcohol • 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 Omega+ Complex Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum 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 Omega+ Complex Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 6.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum 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 Omega+ Complex Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 7.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 35.
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil is the expressed oil from the dried ripe seed of the Linseed, Linum usitatissimum L., Linaceae
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 10.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil is an oil and isn't fungal acne safe.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 13.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables is an oil and isn't fungal acne safe.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 17.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.
Linoleic Acid is Vitamin F and a fatty acid. It is an emollient and helps thicken texture. Linoleic acid helps with hydrating skin and nourishing the skin's barrier. The top layer of skin, or epidermis, contains high amounts of linoleic acid naturally.
Your body uses linoleic acid to build ceramides and prostaglandins. Ceramides keep your skin's barrier plump and firm. Prosaglandins help control inflammation and healing.
This makes linoleic acid effectives for reducing inflammation, hydrating skin, and firming skin. A side effect may include extra protection against UV damage and free radicals. This is due to linoleic acid strengthening the skin barrier.
Low levels of linoleic acid is also associated with acne-prone skin. By keeping sebum soft, it prevents pores from clogging.
Linoleic acid can is in common foods such as nuts, sunflower oil, corn oil, and soybean oil.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
CHEM: 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (9Z, 12Z)-
Learn more about Linoleic AcidPaula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 19.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
Linolenic Acid is a fatty acid. Our bodies need to consume this to use it. Linolenic Acid helps condition and restore skin. It is also used to treat inflammation and hyperpigmentation.
Linolenic Acid reduces hyperpigmentation by disrupting melanin production.
Linolenic Acid is in many oils, include argan, rosehip, and hemp seed.
Read about Linoleic Acid
Learn more about Linolenic AcidPaula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 20.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.
Ceramide AP is a type of Ceramide.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. Having a strong skin barrier leads to more firm and hydrated skin.
They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.
If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.
Read more about other common types of ceramides here: Ceramide NP Ceramide EOP
Learn more about Ceramide APPaula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 23.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.
Ceramide EOP is a type of Ceramide. EOP stands for a linked Ester fatty acid, a linked Omega hydroxy fatty acid, and the Phytosphingosine base.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.
Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A stronger barrier helps the skin look more firm and hydrated. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.
If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.
Read more about other common types of ceramides here: Ceramide AP Ceramide NP
Learn more about Ceramide EOPPaula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 24.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
Ceramide NP is a type of ceramide.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.
Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A stronger barrier helps the skin look more firm and hydrated. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.
If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.
Read more about other common types of ceramides here: Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP
Learn more about Ceramide NPPaula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 25.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.
Cholesterol is a class of organic molecules called lipids. It helps hydrate your skin and is essential to having a healthy skin barrier.
Our skin naturally contains cholesterol in the outermost layer. Besides cholesterol, it also contains ceramides and fatty acids. Cholesterol makes up about 1/4 of your skin's outer layer and barrier. Your skin barrier is responsible for keeping allergens and microbes out. Having a healthy skin barrier is also responsible for keeping your skin firm and plump.
Our bodies use cholestrol to create vitamin D, steroid hormones, and more.
Learn more about CholesterolPaula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 34.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.
Sodium 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 HyaluronatePaula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 38.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.
Xanthan 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 GumPaula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 51.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 31.
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 Omega+ Complex Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 54.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 42.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer 54 ingredients
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum 42 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer 54 ingredients
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum 42 ingredients
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