Vichy Normaderm Beautifying Anti-Acne Care Versus The INKEY List Vitamin B, C and E Moisturizer

Vichy Normaderm Beautifying Anti-Acne Care Versus The INKEY List Vitamin B, C and E Moisturizer

This acne moisturizer is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Phenylethyl Resorcinol to clear breakouts and balance excess oil.

This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate to brighten dull-looking skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Salicylic Acid 1.5%

Water

Dimethicone

Glycerin

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Alcohol Denat.

Butylene Glycol

Glyceryl Stearate

Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate

Octyldodecanol

BHT

PEG-100 Stearate

Stearyl Alcohol

Isobutane

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Blue 1 Lake

Silica Silylate

Sodium Hydroxide

Silica

Sodium Polyacrylate

Perlite

Phenylethyl Resorcinol

Poloxamer 338

Disodium EDTA

Tocopherol

Capryloyl Salicylic Acid

Capryloyl Glycine

Xanthan Gum

T-Butyl Alcohol

Acrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer

Parfum

Salicylic Acid 1.5%, Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Octyldodecanol, BHT, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Isobutane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Blue 1 Lake, Silica Silylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Silica, Sodium Polyacrylate, Perlite, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Poloxamer 338, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Capryloyl Glycine, Xanthan Gum, T-Butyl Alcohol, Acrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer, Parfum

Glyceryl Stearate Se

Cetearyl Alcohol

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Cocos Nucifera Oil

Stearic Acid

Phenoxyethanol

Benzyl Alcohol

Carbomer

Niacinamide

Panthenol

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Sodium Hyaluronate

Tocopheryl Acetate

Ethylhexylglycerin

Dehydroacetic Acid

Lecithin

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Water, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lecithin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed 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.

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.

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

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.

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!

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