Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol Versus Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Moist Cream
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Retinol and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and soften the look of wrinkles.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Butyrospermum Parkii Butter to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientCocoglycerides
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentLecithin
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentCamellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingTetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
AntioxidantTetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane
AntioxidantTetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Cocoglycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Squalane, Sodium Polyacrylate, Lecithin, Adenosine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ceramide NP, Retinol, Punica Granatum Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycereth-26
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientBetaine
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientVinyldimethicone
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMethylpropanediol
SolventFructooligosaccharides
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipropylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycereth-26, Glyceryl Stearate, Betaine, Behenyl Alcohol, Vinyldimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Methylpropanediol, Fructooligosaccharides, Disodium EDTA, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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 Water