Skin science article
Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment Versus Rovectin Cica Care Sleeping Pack
Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment Versus Rovectin Cica Care Sleeping Pack This pore-care treatment is formulated around Niacinamide and Acetyl Glucosamine to refine the look of pores and refine skin texture. This calming night moisturizer is fo
Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment Versus Rovectin Cica Care Sleeping Pack
This pore-care treatment is formulated around Niacinamide and Acetyl Glucosamine to refine the look of pores and refine skin texture.
This calming night moisturizer is formulated around Centella Asiatica Extract and Panthenol to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Niacinamide 20%
Pentylene Glycol
Butylene Glycol
Glycerin
Acetyl Glucosamine
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Spiraea Ulmaria Extract
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Allantoin
Lecithin
Pullulan
Panthenol
Silica
Xanthan Gum
Sclerotium Gum
Propanediol
Sodium Phytate
Phenoxyethanol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Water, Niacinamide 20%, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Lecithin, Pullulan, Panthenol, Silica, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Propanediol, Sodium Phytate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Dipropylene Glycol
Trehalose
Betaine
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Centella Asiatica Extract
Protease
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Saussurea Involucrata Extract
Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract
Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract
Tropolone
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Sodium Polyacrylate
Hydrogenated Polydecene
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Trideceth-10
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Oil
Bioflavonoids
Geranium Maculatum Oil
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Trehalose, Betaine, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Protease, Panthenol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Tropolone, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Trideceth-10, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Oil, Bioflavonoids, Geranium Maculatum Oil
Reviews
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.
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.
Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
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!
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.