Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum versus Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol .
Last updated on November 16, 2023. Published on April 06, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 5 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain retinoid and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens 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 need an update? Let us know.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
General Moisturizer
All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.
Price
Ingredient Info
Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum 21 ingredients
Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol 28 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
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:
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 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
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:
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 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum 21 ingredients
Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol 28 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Benefits
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Concerns
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 Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum 21 ingredients
Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol 28 ingredients
Cyclopentasiloxane • Dimethiconol • Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate • Dicaprylyl Carbonate • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Phenyl Trimethicone • Squalane • Bisabolol • Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate • Retinol • Tocotrienols • Tocopherol • Lecithin • Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract • Avena Sativa Kernel Extract • Elaeis Guineensis Oil • Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate • Hexylene Glycol • Caprylyl Glycol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Phenoxyethanol
Water • 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 Extract • Glycine Soja Seed Extract • Glycine Soja Oil • Butylene Glycol • Propylene Glycol • Glyceryl Polymethacrylate • Xanthan Gum • Phenoxyethanol
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.
Dicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol contains this as ingredient number 2.
Squalane is an emollient that helps the skin hold onto moisture. It's an oily liquid that occurs naturally in certain types of fish and plant oils.
Because squalane boosts hydration in the skin, it also comes with plenty of benefits: it is an antioxidant and can help fight free radicals and skin damage. Squalane is also found to have a detoxifying effect when applied.
Squalane comes from squalene, which occurs naturally within the sebum of our skin. It is one of the oils our skin produces to keep itself hydrated. Squalane is the hydrogenated version of squalene and has a longer shelf life.
Research shows that squalane is non-irritating (even at 100% concentration).
In general, it's a fantastic ingredient. It does a great job at hydrating the skin, and it's suitable for those with sensitive skin.
The source of squalane may impact malassezia / fungal acne. This is because olive oil derived squalane can contain impurities such as fatty acids and plant waxes. Sugarcane derived squalane is recommended for anyone with malassezia concerns.
Is squalane vegan? This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Learn more about SqualanePaula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.
Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol contains this as ingredient number 7.
Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolPaula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol contains this as ingredient number 13.
Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of fatty acids. These fatty acids usually are a mixture of phosphoric acid's choline ester connected to stearic, oleic, and palmitic acids. Most lecithins are created from plant ingredients scuh as sunflower.
Lecithin is an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin. The phospholipids in Lecithin can produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Learn more about LecithinPaula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.
Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol contains this as ingredient number 9.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.
Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol contains this as ingredient number 28.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum 21 ingredients
Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol 28 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum 21 ingredients
Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol 28 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 9 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum.
See 9 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 7 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol.
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