Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster Versus First Aid Beauty Dark Spot Serum With Niacinamide

Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster Versus First Aid Beauty Dark Spot Serum With Niacinamide Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster versus First Aid Beauty Dark Spot Serum With Niacinamide. This pore-care treatment is formulated aroun

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Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster Versus First Aid Beauty Dark Spot Serum With Niacinamide Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster versus First Aid Beauty Dark Spot Serum With Niacinamide. This pore-care treatment is formulated around Niacinamide and Acetyl Glucosamine to refine the look of pores and refine skin texture. This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin. No concerns Water Niacinamide Acetyl Glucosamine Ascorbyl Glucoside Butylene Glycol Phospholipids Sodium Hyaluronate Allantoin Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract Glycerin Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Ubiquinone Epigallocatechin Gallate Beta-Glucan Panthenol Carnosine Genistein Citric Acid Sodium Citrate Sodium Hydroxide Xanthan Gum Disodium EDTA Ethylhexylglycerin Phenoxyethanol Water, Niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Phospholipids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Glycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ubiquinone, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Carnosine, Genistein, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol Dimethicone Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate Polysorbate 20 Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Aminomethyl Propanol Hydroxyacetophenone Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine Acrylates/Vinyl Isodecanoate Crosspolymer Dimethiconol Laureth-4 Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer Pvm/Ma Copolymer Tetrasodium EDTA Water, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Polysorbate 20, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine, Acrylates/Vinyl Isodecanoate Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Laureth-4, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Tetrasodium EDTA Be the first to review 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. Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air. This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with: On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it. One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin). Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption. You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%. 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 s