Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Skin science article

COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask Versus Paula's Choice Radiance Renewal Mask

COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask Versus Paula's Choice Radiance Renewal Mask This hydrating overnight mask is formulated around Oryza Sativa Extract and Niacinamide to hydrate skin and brighten dull-looking skin. This brightening overnight mas

COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask Versus Paula's Choice Radiance Renewal Mask

This hydrating overnight mask is formulated around Oryza Sativa Extract and Niacinamide to hydrate skin and brighten dull-looking skin.

This brightening overnight mask is formulated around Niacinamide and Arbutin to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Oryza Sativa Extract

Butylene Glycol

Glycerin

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Betaine

Niacinamide

Dimethicone

1,2-Hexanediol

Cetearyl Olivate

Sorbitan Olivate

Elaeis Guineensis Oil

Elaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Cetearyl Alcohol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Arginine

Carbomer

Allantoin

Xanthan Gum

Oryza Sativa Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Betaine, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Elaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arginine, Carbomer, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum

Water

Olea Europaea Fruit Oil

Carrageenan

Arbutin

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract

Isohexadecane

Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil

Salix Alba Bark Extract

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Polysorbate 60

Citric Acid

Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine

Phenoxyethanol

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carrageenan, Arbutin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Isohexadecane, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polysorbate 60, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate

Reviews

Be the first to review

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.

Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.

It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.

Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.

This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.

Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.

Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.

What it does:

Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:

Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.

Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.

This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.

Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.

Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.

Topically, glycerin does several things at once:

Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.

Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.

This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.

Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

This is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.

It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.

Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.

And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.

You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.

In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.

If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.

In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).

Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.

Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.

The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Similar Comparisons

The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

Connected source records selected through this article’s public topic index.

01

Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

Ingredient index

Ingredients Side-by-side

  1. 01Water
  2. 02Methylpropanediol
  3. 03Butylene Glycol
  4. 04Salicylic Acid
  5. 05Polysorbate 20
  6. 06Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
  7. 07Sodium Hydroxide
  8. 08Tetrasodium EDTA
  9. 09Phenoxyethanol
  10. 10Water, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
  11. 11Propanediol
  12. 12Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
  13. 13Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
  14. 14Niacinamide
  15. 153-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
  16. 16Caprylyl Glycol
  17. 17Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
  18. 18Sodium Hyaluronate
  19. 19Phenylpropanol
  20. 20Citric Acid
Source · skinsort.com
02

Product index

Related product references

03

Comparison edit

Read side by side