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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum versus Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol .

Published on February 28, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 4 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 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.

Serum South Korean Brand South Korea
Serum American Brand United States

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum

Starts at $20.29
Shop

Buy Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol

Starts at $39.00

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

Retinoid (2)
Vitamin E (2)
Niacinamide
Ceramides
Peptides (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (4)
Good For Oily Skin (3)
Redness Reducing (7)
Reduces Irritation (5)
Skin Texture (2)
Reduces Large Pores (3)
Anti-Aging (7)
Dark Spots (6)
Scar Healing (4)
Acne Fighting (3)
Brightening (6)

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (3)

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid
Vitamin C
Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation (3)
Skin Texture (2)
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (4)
Dark Spots (2)
Scar Healing (3)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying
Irritating (2)
Eczema
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Water • Cyclohexasiloxane • Dicaprylyl Carbonate • Glycerin • Methylpropanediol • 1,2-Hexanediol • Niacinamide • Hydrogenated Polyisobutene • Panthenol • Tocopheryl Acetate • Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract • Centella Asiatica Extract • Panax Ginseng Berry Extract • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Ficus Carica Fruit Extract • Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract • Centella Asiatica Root Extract • Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract • Artemisia Capillaris Extract • Eclipta Prostrata Extract • Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract • Elaeis Guineensis Oil • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Glyceryl Stearate • Bakuchiol • Palmitic Acid • Sodium Polyacrylate • Stearic Acid • Xanthan Gum • Retinol 0.1% • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Butylene Glycol • Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate • Adenosine • Tromethamine • Polyquaternium-51 • Beta-Glucan • Cetyl Alcohol • BHT • Collagen • Myristic Acid • BHA • Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate • Tocopherol • Bifida Ferment Lysate • Ceramide NP • Saccharomyces Ferment • Retinal • Asiaticoside • Glyceryl Polymethacrylate • Madecassoside • Propylene Glycol • Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate • Glycolipids • Glycine Soja Peptide • Resveratrol • Sucrose Distearate • Asiatic Acid • Madecassic Acid • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 • Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil • Peg-100 Stearate • Polysorbate 20 • Parfum • Ethylhexylglycerin

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: Emollient
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Elaeis Guineensis Oil comes from the African Palm tree. This tree is native to Western and Southwestern Africa.

This oil is rich in antioxidants such as Vitamin E. Antioxidants may help with anti-aging.

The Vitamin E and fatty acid content give palm oil a skin-hydrating property. Emollients help trap moisture in by creating a film on the skin.

Palm oil is created by either squeezing the fruit or crushing the kernel at the center of the fruit. In the 1800s, archaeologists discovered a 6000 year old Egyptian tomb containing palm oil.

Palm oil is controversial due to its social and environmental impacts. Several organizations are working to make palm oil harvest more sustainable, such as the RSPO.

Learn more about Elaeis Guineensis Oil

Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum contains this as ingredient number 22.

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol contains this as ingredient number 26.

2
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

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 Retinol

Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum contains this as ingredient number 30.

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol contains this as ingredient number 6.

3
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.

Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.

Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.

In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.

Learn more about Adenosine

Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum contains this as ingredient number 34.

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol contains this as ingredient number 10.

4
What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol

Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum contains this as ingredient number 44.

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol contains this as ingredient number 5.

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

58% are loved or liked
12% have mixed ratings
23% are disliked or very disliked
6% have no rating yet
37% are loved or liked
7% have mixed ratings
26% are disliked or very disliked
30% 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

Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum 65 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 1 rating
YSLDave's avatar

YSLDave

6 months ago · Oily Skin
Review

Great for beginers
if you never used retinol Serum, buy this, is a Great Serum, absorb really quick and is perfect for oily skin

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 34 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 1 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol.

See 1 alternatives
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