Paula's Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum Versus The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum

Paula's Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum Versus The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum versus The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum. 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 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 Sarcosine Salicylic Acid Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine Chlorphenesin Water, Propanediol, Sarcosine, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin 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. Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes. Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath. However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products. Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH. In skincare formulas, citric acid can: While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants. Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations. Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger. However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure. 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. Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!). It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome. On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.