Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment versus The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand .
Last updated on October 26, 2023. Published on July 07, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 16 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain retinoid, Vitamin C 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.
General Moisturizer
All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.
Body Treatment
Body treatments are designed to help fix or alleviate skin conditions.
Price
Ingredient Info
Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment 31 ingredients
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand 38 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 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment 31 ingredients
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand 38 ingredients
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment 31 ingredients
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand 38 ingredients
Water • Cetearyl Alcohol • Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate • Cyclopentasiloxane • Dimethicone • Glycerin • Butylene Glycol • Cetyl Palmitate • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Glyceryl Stearate • Peg-100 Stearate • Oenothera Biennis Oil • Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil • Cetyl Alcohol • Retinol • Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate • Tocopheryl Acetate • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Panthenol • Carnosine • Dimethiconol • Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Beeswax • Magnesium Aluminum Silicate • Sodium Hydroxide • Xanthan Gum • Dicaprylyl Carbonate • Decylene Glycol • Disodium EDTA • Chlorphenesin • Phenoxyethanol
Polyisobutene • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Squalane • Paraffinum Liquidum • Lanolin • Petrolatum • Ozokerite • Beeswax • Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Polyethylene • Retinol • Cetearyl Alcohol • Glyceryl Stearate • Peg-100 Stearate • Oenothera Biennis Oil • Ascorbyl Palmitate • Tocopheryl Acetate • Water • Panthenol • Carnosine • Lithium Magnesium Silicate • Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil • Zea Mays Starch • Disodium EDTA • Lecithin • Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract • Allantoin • Peg-8 Isostearate • Aspartame • BHT • Sodium Benzoate • Dunaliella Salina Extract • Albizia Julibrissin Branch/Leaf Extract • Phenylethyl Resorcinol • Sorbitan Stearate • Glycerin • Butylene Glycol
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 Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment contains this as ingredient number 1.
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand contains this as ingredient number 19.
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 AlcoholPaula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment contains this as ingredient number 2.
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand contains this as ingredient number 13.
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 Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment contains this as ingredient number 6.
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand contains this as ingredient number 37.
Butylene 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.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment contains this as ingredient number 7.
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand contains this as ingredient number 38.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter is a plant lipid from the fruit of the Shea Tree. It is an effective skin hydrator and emollient.
Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. It does this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Shea butter is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may harm the body. It is also full of fatty acids including stearic acid and linoleic acid. These acids help replenish the skin and keep skin moisturized.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
Shea butter may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterPaula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment contains this as ingredient number 9.
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand contains this as ingredient number 10.
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 Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment contains this as ingredient number 10.
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand contains this as ingredient number 14.
Peg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Peg-100 Stearate helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. It helps prevent oil and water from separating in a product. By binding oil and water, it helps remove dirt and oil to be rinsed away.
Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment contains this as ingredient number 11.
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand contains this as ingredient number 15.
Oenothera Biennis Oil is the fixed oil derived from the seeds of the Evening Primrose.
Evening primrose oil is rich in fatty acids. These fatty acids include linoleic (60-85%), oleic (5-12%), palmitic (4-10%), and stearic (2-4%).
The fatty acid composition makes it a great ingredient for soothing and moisturizing skin. However, it may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal acne safe.
Further research is needed on the role of evening primrose in treating eczema.
Evening primrose is native to North America.
Learn more about Oenothera Biennis OilPaula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment contains this as ingredient number 12.
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand contains this as ingredient number 16.
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil comes from the grape vine. Grape seeds are a byproduct of creating grape juice or wine.
The components of grape seeds have many skin benefits. Research has found it to be antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. It also contains many potent antioxidants such as Vitamin E , Vitamin C, proanthocyanidins, polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Proanthocyanidin has been shown to help even out skin tone.
Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radicals by donating extra electrons. Grape seed extract may help reduce the signs of aging.
The antimicrobial properties of grape seed may help treat acne. However, more research is needed to support this claim.
Grape seed has also been found to help absorb UV rays. Grape seed extract should not replace your sunscreen.
The fatty acids of grape seed oil give it emollient properties. Emollients help soothe and soften your skin by creating a film. This film traps moisture within, keeping your skin hydrated.
Learn more about Vitis Vinifera Seed OilPaula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment contains this as ingredient number 13.
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand contains this as ingredient number 23.
Retinol is a form of Vitamin A and proven to help with anti-aging.
It promotes collagen production, increases new cell turnoever, and protects your skin as an antioxidant.
Retinol boosts collagen production and increases cell turnover. This makes retinol effective in removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Retinol is less effective when exposed to sun. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent.
Using retinol and retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few weeks of use. 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 Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment contains this as ingredient number 15.
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand contains this as ingredient number 12.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetatePaula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment contains this as ingredient number 17.
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand contains this as ingredient number 18.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglyceridePaula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment contains this as ingredient number 18.
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand contains this as ingredient number 2.
Panthenol (also referred to as pro-vitamin B5) is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin.
lt is a humectant, meaning that it helps the skin attract and retain moisture.
Another benefit is the anti-inflammatory abilities. This means that it's great for sensitive, irritation-prone skin.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
Learn more about PanthenolPaula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment contains this as ingredient number 19.
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand contains this as ingredient number 20.
We don't have a description for Carnosine.
Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment contains this as ingredient number 20.
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand contains this as ingredient number 21.
Beeswax is natural wax produced by honey bees and can be synthetically created. It consists mainly of fatty acid esters and long-chain alcohols.
In cosmetics, beeswax is a emollient. Due to its waxy structure, it creates a protective barrier. This barrier prevents water from evaporating off the skin.
This may not be a good ingredient for oily skin. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Beeswax cannot be removed with water, but can be taken off with an oil cleanser.
Beeswax is also antiseptic and contains vitamin A.
Learn more about BeeswaxPaula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment contains this as ingredient number 23.
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand contains this as ingredient number 8.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAPaula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment contains this as ingredient number 29.
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand contains this as ingredient number 25.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment 31 ingredients
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand 38 ingredients
Usage
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When to use
Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment 31 ingredients
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand 38 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
The Glow Fairy Retinol Body Glow Wand 38 ingredients
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