Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol .
Published on March 25, 2022
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 8 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, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances, oils and silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Price
Ingredient Info
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum 24 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol 27 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
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:
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:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
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:
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 Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum 24 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol 27 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients 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 Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum 24 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol 27 ingredients
Cyclopentasiloxane • Isododecane • Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate • Cyclohexasiloxane • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Tocopheryl Acetate • Retinyl Palmitate • Retinol • Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate • Astaxanthin • Bisabolol • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Salix Alba Bark Extract • Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract • Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract • Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract • Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract • Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract • Betula Alba Bark Extract • Glycine Soja Oil • Silica • Phenoxyethanol
Cyclopentasiloxane • Dimethicone • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Olea Europaea Fruit Oil • Tocopherol • Retinol • Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate • Bisabolol • Tocotrienols • Adenosine • Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane • Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane • Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane • Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract • Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract • Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract • Stearyl Dimethicone • Astaxanthin • Glycine Soja Oil • Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract • Oenothera Biennis Oil • Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil • Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil • Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil • Elaeis Guineensis Oil • Sd Alcohol 40
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.
Cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone used to improve texture and trap moisture. An easier name for this is D5.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
D5 is an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxanePaula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol contains this as ingredient number 6.
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate is a version of ascorbic acid, or pure Vitamin C.
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
One study found Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate to degrade in sunlight, but is stabilized when conbined with acetyl zingerone.
Learn more about Ascorbyl TetraisopalmitatePaula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol contains this as ingredient number 7.
Astaxanthin is a carotene pigment and red pigment. It's what makes salmon a pink color.
Astaxanthin is an antioxidant and protects cells from free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that damage our cells.
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol contains this as ingredient number 19.
Bisabolol is pimarily used to add fragrance to a product. However, it is also famous for helping soothe skin.
Bisabolol comes from German chamomile essential oil. Synthetic Bisabolol has been shown to be less effective.
Bisabolol helps soothe skin. It does this by blocking the inflammatory signals, helping to reduce your body's reaction to irritation.
Bisabolol also interferes with the process of hyperpigmentation. This can help with reducing dark spots and uneven tone.
Bisabolol is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. By fighting these free-radicals, Bisabolol may slow down signs of aging.
Studies have shown Bisabolol to have antimicrobial properties and may be a fungicide. These properties help preserve a product's shelf life.
Bisabolol also helps the absorption of other ingredients.
Learn more about BisabololPaula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol contains this as ingredient number 8.
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract comes from the Chamomile flower.
Chamomile is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Several compounds found in chamomile help with soothing, such as bisbolol.
Antioxidant components in chamomile make it an effective ingredient to help slow the signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, or molecules that may damage your skin.
Essential oils from chamomile have been found to improve wound healing due to its antimicrobial properties.
Ancient Greeks and Egyptians used Chamomile to treat skin redness and dryness. Chamomile has also been used to help treat stomach issues.
Learn more about Chamomilla Recutita Flower ExtractPaula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol contains this as ingredient number 16.
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract 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.
Learn more about Vitis Vinifera Seed ExtractPaula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol contains this as ingredient number 21.
Glycine Soja Oil comes from the soybean. Glycine Soja is native to eastern Asia.
Soybean oil is an emollient. It is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids including palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids.
As an emollient, the fatty acids in soybean oil helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. It does so by creating a film on top that traps moisture in.
Soybean oil is also rich in vitamin E, a potent antioxidant. Vitamin E is also anti-inflammatory and provides a soothing effect.
Studies show soy may help fade hyperpigmentation from UVB. It does so by disrupting the melanin process from UVB induced skin inflammation.
This ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne, safe.
Soybeans are rich in proteins and are part of the legume family. Foods made with soybeans include tofu, soymilk, edamame, miso, and soy sauce.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilPaula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol contains this as ingredient number 20.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum 24 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol 27 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum 24 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol 27 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum 24 ingredients
Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol 27 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 4 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum.
See 4 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 1 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol.
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