The Inkey List
Starter Retinol SerumPaula's Choice
Discoloration Repair SerumA serum built around Retinoid, for barrier repair and smoothing.
A serum built around Niacinamide and Tranexamic acid, for barrier repair and smoothing.
Brand price
USD 15.00 · checked 26 Sept 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
USD 59.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site
At a Glance
They come out differently on Vegan; that row is 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
Hydrating4
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair15
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Bakuchiol, Behenyl Alcohol, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycine Soja Sterols, Lecithin, Niacinamide, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Tocopherol
Redness Reducing3
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 Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis7
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Behenyl Alcohol, Ethyl Macadamiate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lecithin, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris3
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate (in both products)
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
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Solvent
Dicaprylyl Carbonate (in both products)
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
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 →Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Carbonic Acid, Dicaprylyl Ester
Learn more about Dicaprylyl Carbonate →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 →Xanthan Gum
Binding, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling
Xanthan gum
Learn more about Xanthan Gum →Glycine Soja Oil
Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycine Soja Oil →Ethylhexylglycerin
Deodorant, Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin is the organic compound that conforms to the formula
Learn more about Ethylhexylglycerin →Sodium Phytate
Chelating, Oral Care
Myo-Inositol, hexakis(dihydrogen phosphate), sodium salt
Learn more about Sodium Phytate →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 →
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