Skin science article
OSEA Anti-Aging Body Balm Versus Paula's Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum
OSEA Anti-Aging Body Balm Versus Paula's Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum What's inside Key Ingredients Benefits Concerns Ingredients Side-by-side Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil Octyldodecanol Cocos Nucifera Oil Glyceryl Stearate Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil Alar
OSEA Anti-Aging Body Balm Versus Paula's Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Octyldodecanol
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Glyceryl Stearate
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Alaria Esculenta Extract
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Jasminum Officinale Oil
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Tocopherol
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Ocimum Basilicum Oil
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Water
Panthenol
Niacinamide
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Myristyl Myristate
Pentylene Glycol
Glycerin
C13-15 Alkane
Squalene
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Propanediol
Saccharide Isomerate
Sodium Polyacrylate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Caprylyl Glycol
Xanthan Gum
Ethylhexylglycerin
Hexylene Glycol
Sclerotium Gum
Lecithin
Pullulan
Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Pantolactone
Sodium Phytate
Silica
Ceramide AP
1,2-Hexanediol
Citric Acid
Sodium Citrate
Bacillus Ferment
Phenoxyethanol
Water, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Myristyl Myristate, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, C13-15 Alkane, Squalene, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Propanediol, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Pullulan, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Pantolactone, Sodium Phytate, Silica, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Bacillus Ferment, Phenoxyethanol
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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.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.