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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Skinfix Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream With B-L3 Complex versus Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer .

Last updated on March 05, 2024. Published on December 03, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 11 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain peptides

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens, silicones 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.

General Moisturizer Canadian Brand Canada
General Moisturizer American Brand United States

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

Price

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

AHA
Vitamin E
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid (2)
Peptides (5)

Benefits

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

Concerns

Irritating (2)
Rosacea
Eczema

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation
Scar Healing
Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger
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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.

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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

Skinfix Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream With B-L3 Complex contains this as ingredient number 1.

Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

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 Squalane

Skinfix Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream With B-L3 Complex contains this as ingredient number 2.

Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 12.

3
What it does: Solvent
Community Rating: Liked

Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.

It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Learn more about Propanediol

Skinfix Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream With B-L3 Complex contains this as ingredient number 3.

Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 8.

4
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

We don't have a description for Triheptanoin.

Skinfix Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream With B-L3 Complex contains this as ingredient number 5.

Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 5.

5
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

Skinfix Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream With B-L3 Complex contains this as ingredient number 12.

Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 2.

6
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing
Community Rating: Loved

Allantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.

Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.

Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Learn more about Allantoin

Skinfix Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream With B-L3 Complex contains this as ingredient number 14.

Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 16.

7
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

Skinfix Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream With B-L3 Complex contains this as ingredient number 19.

Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 15.

8
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.

Skinfix Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream With B-L3 Complex contains this as ingredient number 35.

Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 18.

9
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Disliked

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

Potassium sorbate is potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.

Potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

Potassium sorbate is often used with stronger preservatives.

Learn more about Potassium Sorbate

Skinfix Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream With B-L3 Complex contains this as ingredient number 37.

Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 31.

10
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Skinfix Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream With B-L3 Complex contains this as ingredient number 38.

Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 26.

11
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

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.

Skinfix Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream With B-L3 Complex contains this as ingredient number 43.

Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 30.

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

60% are loved or liked
12% have mixed ratings
19% are disliked or very disliked
9% have no rating yet
42% are loved or liked
13% have mixed ratings
29% are disliked or very disliked
16% 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

Skinfix Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream With B-L3 Complex 43 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 5 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Hydrating (1) Light (1) No Scent (1) Works Well (1)
paigiegirll's avatar

paigiegirll

4 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

I'm already in love and it's been a day since first using it!! Doesn't burn when you put it on like my other moisturiser, it leaves your skin...

I'm already in love and it's been a day since first using it!! Doesn't burn when you put it on like my other moisturiser, it leaves your skin feeling hydrated without it feeling so heavy on your skin. It's made my acne go down tremendously in literally one day, my pimples are less red and the size of them are 3x smaller than what they were. My skin actually looks healthy now before it looked like it was lacking hydration it was so dull! completely gone after using it twice! I couldn't recommend this product enough, its perfect if you have acne prone skin, don't like the feeling of heavy oily moisturisers, leaves your skin feeling so fresh and soft while healing/helping your acne at the same time! plus really good ingredients for acne prone skin, go splurge on this product you won't regret it!

kiki.pdf's avatar

kiki.pdf

11 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

sooo good but way too expensive
i lovedddd this moisturizer the one summer i used it when i needed a lighter moisturizer because my combo skin gets...

sooo good but way too expensive
i lovedddd this moisturizer the one summer i used it when i needed a lighter moisturizer because my combo skin gets oily in the summer. i have pretty severe acne and it helped so much but each bottle only lasts maybe a month and it's veryyyy expensive especially for someone on a budget

Paula's Choice Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer 31 ingredients

Rescue & Repair Weightless Moisturizer hasn't been rated yet.
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