The Inkey List
Starter Retinol SerumPaula's Choice
1% Retinol TreatmentA serum built around Retinoid, for barrier repair and smoothing.
A serum built around Vitamin C derivative and Vitamin C, for barrier repair and smoothing.
Brand price
USD 15.00 · checked 26 Sept 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
USD 48.75 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site
At a Glance
They come out differently on Silicone-free, Pore-clogger-free and Oil-free; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.
Key Ingredients
Fatty alcohol2
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Benefits
Hydrating5
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Squalane, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair12
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycine Soja Sterols, Squalane, Sucrose Laurate, Tocopherol
Hydrating8
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, PEG-14, PEG-33, Sodium Hyaluronate
Barrier Repair16
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Arachidyl Alcohol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Behenyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Isononyl Isononanoate, Lecithin, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, PPG-12/SMDI Copolymer, Tribehenin
Reduces Irritation5
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Allantoin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Redness Reducing2
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Concerns
May Trigger Acne5
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis14
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycolipids, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Phospholipids, Polysorbate 60, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sucrose Laurate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris5
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol
May Trigger Acne2
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis19
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Arachidyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Castor Isostearate Succinate, Ceramide Ng, Glyceryl Stearate, Lecithin, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Laurate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tribehenin
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris2
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Emollient
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- 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
2 / 2
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Emollient
Skin Conditioning
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- 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
Humectant
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water
Antiplaque, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Learn more about Water →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 →Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient, Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate →Phenoxyethanol
Antimicrobial, Preservative
Phenoxyethanol is the aromatic ether alcohol that conforms to the formula:
Learn more about Phenoxyethanol →Ethylhexylglycerin
Deodorant, Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin is the organic compound that conforms to the formula
Learn more about Ethylhexylglycerin →Glycine Soja Sterols
Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Glycine Soja Sterol is a mixture of phytosterols obtained from the Soybean, Glycine soja, Leguminosae
Learn more about Glycine Soja Sterols →
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