Paula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier Versus Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment

Paula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier Versus Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Defense Antioxidant Pore Purifier versus Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment. This pore-care treatment is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside and Salicylic Acid to refine the look of pores and balance excess oil. This pore-care treatment is formulated around Niacinamide and Acetyl Glucosamine to refine the look of pores and refine skin texture. No concerns Water Propanediol Butylene Glycol Ethoxydiglycol Glycerin Ascorbyl Glucoside Panthenol Salicylic Acid Camellia Sinensis Callus Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate Coffea Arabica Fruit Extract Ceramide NP Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Panax Ginseng Root Extract Niacinamide Phytic Acid Epigallocatechin Gallate Adenosine Ubiquinone Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract Sodium Hyaluronate Lecithin Centella Asiatica Extract Sucrose Stearate Glycine Soja Seed Extract Hydrogenated Lecithin Carbomer Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Caprylyl Glycol Polysorbate 20 Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate Hydroxyethylcellulose Sodium Hydroxide Ethylhexylglycerin Phenoxyethanol Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Callus, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Coffea Arabica Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Niacinamide, Phytic Acid, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Adenosine, Ubiquinone, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sucrose Stearate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Carbomer, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol Niacinamide 20% Pentylene Glycol Acetyl Glucosamine Spiraea Ulmaria Extract Portulaca Oleracea Extract Camellia Japonica Flower Extract Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Allantoin Pullulan Silica Xanthan Gum Sclerotium Gum Sodium Phytate 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 These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Ascorbyl Glucoside (AA-2G) is one of the most stable vitamin C derivatives out there. It's made by attaching a glucose molecule to ascorbic acid; this glucose "cap" shields the vitamin C from air, light, heat, and metal ions that normally cause pure ascorbic acid to oxidize. Once on your skin, the enzyme alpha-glucosidase snips off the glucose and gradually releases active ascorbic acid right where it's needed. Basically, it behaves like a slow-release pro-vitamin C with less of a stinging that high-strength ascorbic acid can cause. The research supports the classic vitamin C benefits as well. In lab and human studies, AA-2G slowed down the skin's production of melanin (the pigment behind dark spots) and helped shield skin cells against sun damage better than ascorbyl phosphate. These studies also showed AA-2G released vitamin C over a longer period. A frequently cited manufacturer trial found that a 2% AA-2G face cream significantly improved wrinkle depth and skin roughness after 45 days. And in 2009, a clinical trial showed it meaningfully lightened dark patches on the gums compared to a placebo. There's also collagen-synthesis support (since vitamin C is a required cofactor for that) and an antioxidant effect too. Typical usage is usually between 0.5-5% and most studies/products land around 2%. AA-2G performs best when formulated at a mildly acidic pH (~5-7) which is much gentler than the pH that pure vitamin C demands (~2.5-3.5). Just one thing worth knowing: the in-skin conversation rate is only about 55-60% by weight. So a 5% AA-2G product delivers roughly 2.75-3% of actual active vitamin C. On top of that, skin absorption is relatively low because the ingredient is water-soluble. 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. Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant catechin in green tea. It is a heavyweight antioxidant in the green tea family. In skincare, it helps protect skin from photoaging damage by scavenging UV-induced reactive oxygen species and tampering down inflammatory pathways. UV-exposed skin cells treated with EGCG showed less of the enzyme that chews up collagen, lower inflammatory signaling, and better preserved barrier function. EGCG nudges skin cells to make more of your skin's built in moisturizing molecules, filaggrin and hyaluronic acid, for better skin hydration. Because it inhibits melanogenesis, it also provides a mild brightening effect. Clinically, topical EGCG has helped calm radiation-related skin irritation and scalp seborrheic dermatitis with no major side effe