Paula's Choice
Intensive Repair CreamA face cream built around Retinoid and Peptides, for barrier repair and smoothing.
A face cream built around Niacinamide, for barrier repair and smoothing.
Brand price
USD 42.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
USD 49.00 · checked 26 Sept 2026 · brand's site
At a Glance
Every check both products could be assessed on comes out the same. Tap any answer to see why.
Key Ingredients
Fatty alcohol1
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Fatty alcohol1
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Benefits
Hydrating11
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Phenyl Trimethicone, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair22
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Behenyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Niacinamide, Petrolatum, Phenyl Trimethicone, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Tribehenin, Tridecyl Stearate, Tridecyl Trimellitate
Reduces Irritation2
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Redness Reducing2
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Hydrating10
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Jojoba Esters, Polyglycerin-3, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate
Barrier Repair16
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C10-18 Triglycerides, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Colloidal Oatmeal, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Jojoba Esters, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Niacinamide
Reduces Irritation5
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Colloidal Oatmeal, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Jojoba Esters, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Redness Reducing3
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Concerns
May Trigger Acne5
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Retinyl Palmitate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopherol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis20
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Behenyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ceramide Ng, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, PEG-100 Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Retinyl Palmitate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tribehenin, Tridecyl Stearate, Tridecyl Trimellitate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris5
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Retinyl Palmitate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopherol
May Trigger Acne3
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis16
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C10-18 Triglycerides, Ceteth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Jojoba Esters, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, PEG-75 Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Steareth-20
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris3
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Ingredients Side-by-side
Skin Conditioning
Emollient
5 / —
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
0-2 / 0
- Face oil
- Plant oils and butters (coconut, olive, shea)
- Plant or mineral oil
- Barrier Repair
- Hydrating
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Oily Skin
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
2 / 1
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate
Emulsifying
Skin Conditioning
- Plant oils and butters (coconut, olive, shea)
- Plant or mineral oil
- Barrier Repair
- Hydrating
- May Worsen Oily Skin
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Glyceryl Stearate (in both products)
Emollient
1 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Possibly animal-derived
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
4 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
2 / 2
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Butane-1,3-diol (CAS No. 107-88-0/ EC No. 203-529-7) (R)-(-)-butane-1,3-diol” (CAS No. 6290-03-5/ EC No. 228-532-0)
Learn more about Butylene Glycol →Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care, Perfuming, Humectant, Skin Protecting, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Glycerin may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glycerin →Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Fragrance, Perfuming, Occlusive, Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is the mixed triester of glycerin and caprylic and capric acids.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride →Dimethicone
Antifoaming, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Skin Protecting
Dimethicone is a silicone.
Learn more about Dimethicone →Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient, Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate →Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 →Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 →Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate is a hyaluronic acid.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate →Niacinamide
Smoothing
Niacinamide is niacinamide.
Learn more about Niacinamide →Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Smoothing, Soothing
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of the Licorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Leguminosae
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract →
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