Skin science article
Numbuzin No.2 Protein 43% Creamy Serum Versus APRILSKIN Collagen Peptide Plumping Serum
Numbuzin No.2 Protein 43% Creamy Serum Versus APRILSKIN Collagen Peptide Plumping Serum This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthenol to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacina
Numbuzin No.2 Protein 43% Creamy Serum Versus APRILSKIN Collagen Peptide Plumping Serum
This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthenol to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 to soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Avena Sativa Protein Extract
Water
Cyclopentasiloxane
Butylene Glycol
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Cyclohexasiloxane
Phenyl Trimethicone
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
Niacinamide
Panthenol
1,2-Hexanediol
Glycerin
Erythritol
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Sodium Chloride
Allantoin
Ethylhexylglycerin
Tocopheryl Acetate
Adenosine
Dextrin
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Pantolactone
Ceramide NP
Cholesterol
Palmitic Acid
Oryza Sativa Seed Protein
Stearic Acid
Hydrolyzed Milk Protein
Lactobacillus Ferment
Glycine Soja Protein
Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Glucose
Hydrolyzed Corn Protein
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Hydrolyzed Sweet Almond Protein
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Myristic Acid
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
Arachidic Acid
Lauric Acid
Sodium Succinate
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Avena Sativa Protein Extract, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Niacinamide, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Erythritol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Sodium Chloride, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Adenosine, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Pantolactone, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Palmitic Acid, Oryza Sativa Seed Protein, Stearic Acid, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycine Soja Protein, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Glucose, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Sweet Almond Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Myristic Acid, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Arachidic Acid, Lauric Acid, Sodium Succinate, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Soluble Collagen
Methyl Gluceth-20
Glycereth-26
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
C12-14 Pareth-12
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Polyglycerin-3
Methyl Gluceth-10
Tromethamine
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic Acid
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Squalane
Caprylyl Glycol
Sorbitan Laurate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Diphenyl Dimethicone
Triethylhexanoin
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Soluble Collagen, Water, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, C12-14 Pareth-12, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Polyglycerin-3, Methyl Gluceth-10, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Dextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Laurate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
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Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
Emollient, helping to soften skin
Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that your body already makes in every cell. In skincare, it acts mainly as a skin conditioning and anti-aging agent.
The way it works is fairly well mapped out:
Your skin has cells called fibroblasts that build collagen (the stuff that keeps skin firm and smooth). Adenosine basically flips a switch on these cells that tells them to get to work making more collagen and other proteins. These cells slow down on their own as skin ages, so Adenosine helps give them a little nudge to keep going.
The clinical backing is pretty solid too.
A blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 126 women aged 45-65 tested a 0.1% cream twice daily and found real improvements in crow's feet and frown lines using a precise 3D skin-mapping technique; these changes showed up by week 3 and held at 2 months.
A later study using Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches reported gains in wrinkle depth, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration.
On concentrations, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has set 0.04% as the approved functional anti-wrinkle level. You'll typically see this ingredient used somewhere in the 0.04-0.1% range since it works at low doses.
This ingredient has been found safe for cosmetics with the data showing no irritation or sensitization.
Overall, this is a great ingredient for any anti-aging routine and has no photosensitizing effect, so it suits both AM and PM use.
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.
Dextrin is a starch-derived polysaccharide. It's made by partially breaking down corn, potato, or other plant starches.
Think of it as "half-processed" starch; it's less complex than the original but not fully broken down into sugar like maltodextrin.
In cosmetics, it mainly functions as a bulking agent, viscosity controller, binder, and absorbent. It helps thicken products, stabilize powders, and get certain textures a less "wet" feel.
This ingredient has a pretty solid safety profile; it's recognized as a safe food additive and its large molecular size means it doesn't meaningfully penetrate skin.
Human repeat insult patch tests using a rinse-off facial product containing 42.69% dextrin found no skin irritation or sensitization in 54 subjects.
Typical real-world usage is much lower: usually under 1% as a texture modifier and up to 40% in masks (rinse off products use less).
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
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.
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.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!