Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

The INKEY List Niacinamide Oil Control Serum Versus Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum

The INKEY List Niacinamide Oil Control Serum Versus Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum Detailed comparison of The INKEY List Niacinamide Oil Control Serum versus Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum. This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide to

This source-based comparison does not add ratings or recommend a winner.

The INKEY List Niacinamide Oil Control Serum Versus Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum Detailed comparison of The INKEY List Niacinamide Oil Control Serum versus Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum. This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores. This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots. Water Niacinamide Glycerin Propanediol Butylene Glycol Phenoxyethanol Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Hydroxyethylcellulose Phospholipids Squalane Xanthan Gum Glycine Soja Oil Allantoin Sodium Phytate Polysorbate 60 Panthenol Glycolipids Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate Sorbitan Isostearate Glycine Soja Sterols Citric Acid Hyaluronic Acid Disodium Phosphate Sodium Phosphate Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phospholipids, Squalane, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja Oil, Allantoin, Sodium Phytate, Polysorbate 60, Panthenol, Glycolipids, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Citric Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate Methylpropanediol 1,2-Hexanediol Betaine 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid Tocopheryl Acetate Bifida Ferment Lysate Chlorella Vulgaris Extract Sodium Hyaluronate Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid Curcuma Longa Root Extract Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract Corallina Officinalis Extract Hydrolyzed Collagen Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer Hydroxyethyl Urea Glucose Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans Trehalose Fructooligosaccharides Fructose Tromethamine Benzyl Glycol Adenosine Sodium Citrate Ethylhexylglycerin Polysorbate 20 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Ascorbic Acid Biotin Cyanocobalamin Folic Acid Pantothenic Acid Pyridoxine Riboflavin Thiamine Hcl Bioflavonoids Glutathione Linoleic Acid Menadione Retinol Tocopherol Carbomer Water, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Betaine, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glucose, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Trehalose, Butylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Tromethamine, Benzyl Glycol, Adenosine, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Cyanocobalamin, Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine, Riboflavin, Thiamine Hcl, Bioflavonoids, Glutathione, Linoleic Acid, Menadione, Retinol, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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. 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. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on it