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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum versus Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment .

Last updated on December 05, 2023. Published on May 08, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain ceramides, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Serum American Brand United States
Facial Treatment American Brand United States

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

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

Shop

Buy Omega+ Complex Serum

Starts at $42.00
Shop

Buy Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment

Starts at $64.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Ceramides (5)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (9)
Redness Reducing (7)
Reduces Irritation (5)
Skin Texture
Anti-Aging (7)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Brightening (3)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Exfoliators
Ceramides
Hyaluronic Acid
Peptides (4)

Benefits

Hydrating (3)
Good For Oily Skin (2)
Redness Reducing (4)
Reduces Irritation (3)
Skin Texture (2)
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (4)
Dark Spots (5)
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (4)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger
Irritating
Eczema (2)
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Water

Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Glycerin

Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 11.

3
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

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 Hyaluronate

Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.

Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 21.

4
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Disliked

This is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.

It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.

Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.

Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 46.

5
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying
Community Rating: Disliked

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 Stearate

Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 35.

Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 13.

6
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.

Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.

Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.

This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.

Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.

Learn more about Cetearyl Alcohol

Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum contains this as ingredient number 37.

Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 47.

7
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

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 Serum contains this as ingredient number 42.

Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment contains this as ingredient number 54.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

36% are loved or liked
17% have mixed ratings
29% are disliked or very disliked
19% have no rating yet
39% are loved or liked
13% have mixed ratings
41% are disliked or very disliked
7% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum 42 ingredients

Omega+ Complex Serum hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment 54 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 2 ratings

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 14 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 4 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment.

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