Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner Versus Numbuzin No.5 Glutathione Vitamin Concentrated Toner

Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner Versus Numbuzin No.5 Glutathione Vitamin Concentrated Toner Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner US versus Numbuzin No.5 Glutathione Vitamin Concentrated Toner. This pore-car

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Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner Versus Numbuzin No.5 Glutathione Vitamin Concentrated Toner Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner US versus Numbuzin No.5 Glutathione Vitamin Concentrated Toner. This pore-care toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthenol to refine the look of pores and balance excess oil. This brightening toner is formulated around Niacinamide and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin. No concerns Water Glycerin Butylene Glycol Niacinamide Polysorbate 20 Adenosine Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract Arctium Lappa Seed Oil Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters Sodium PCA Panthenol Sodium Hyaluronate Ceramide NP Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Phytosphingosine Cholesterol Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Oleth-10 Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Caprylyl Glycol Hexylene Glycol Sodium Citrate Xanthan Gum Trisodium EDTA Phenoxyethanol Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Adenosine, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Arctium Lappa Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Oleth-10, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol Dipropylene Glycol 1,2-Hexanediol Polyglycerin-3 Hippophae Rhamnoides Water Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Tromethamine Erythritol Pentylene Glycol Ethylhexylglycerin 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate Hydrogenated Lecithin Glutathione Disodium EDTA Madecassoside Coptis Japonica Root Extract Decyl Glucoside Bisabolol Tocopherol Ascorbic Acid Arbutin Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 Hexapeptide-9 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Nonapeptide-1 Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Erythritol, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Adenosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glutathione, Disodium EDTA, Madecassoside, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide NP, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Ascorbic Acid, Arbutin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Nonapeptide-1 These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that your body already makes in every cell. In skincare, it acts mainly as a skin conditioning and anti-aging agent. The way it works is fairly well mapped out: Your skin has cells called fibroblasts that build collagen (the stuff that keeps skin firm and smooth). Adenosine basically flips a switch on these cells that tells them to get to work making more collagen and other proteins. These cells slow down on their own as skin ages, so Adenosine helps give them a little nudge to keep going. The clinical backing is pretty solid too. A blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 126 women aged 45-65 tested a 0.1% cream twice daily and found real improvements in crow's feet and frown lines using a precise 3D skin-mapping technique; these changes showed up by week 3 and held at 2 months. A later study using Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches reported gains in wrinkle depth, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration. On concentrations, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has set 0.04% as the approved functional anti-wrinkle level. You'll typically see this ingredient used somewhere in the 0.04-0.1% range since it works at low doses. This ingredient has been found safe for cosmetics with the data showing no irritation or sensitization. Overall, this is a great ingredient for any anti-aging routine and has no photosensitizing effect, so it suits both AM and PM use. 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. Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created. Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin. Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on). Ceramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids. Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes. This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants. A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%. Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash an