Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

ZO Skin Health Brightalive® Versus Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum

ZO Skin Health Brightalive® Versus Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum Detailed comparison of ZO Skin Health Brightalive® versus Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum. This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Aminopropyl Ascorbyl P

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ZO Skin Health Brightalive® Versus Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum Detailed comparison of ZO Skin Health Brightalive® versus Paula's Choice Discoloration Repair Serum. This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots. This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin. Water Glycerin Dimethicone Niacinamide Caprylyl Methicone C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Glyceryl Stearate PEG-100 Stearate Acrylamide/Ammonium Acrylate Copolymer Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate Cetyl Alcohol PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer Tranexamic Acid Acetyl Glucosamine Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Diglucosyl Gallic Acid Beta-Glucan Papain Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer Palmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1 Elaeis Guineensis Oil Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil Bidens Pilosa Extract Tocopherol Sodium Bisulfite Tocopheryl Acetate Ascorbic Acid Retinyl Palmitate Xanthan Gum Polyisobutene Polymethyl Methacrylate Polyvinyl Alcohol Polysorbate 20 Disodium EDTA 1,2-Hexanediol Carbomer Algin Sodium Hydroxide Parfum Phenoxyethanol Caprylyl Glycol Chlorphenesin Pentylene Glycol Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Caprylyl Methicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Acrylamide/Ammonium Acrylate Copolymer, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Tranexamic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Papain, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Palmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide, Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Bisulfite, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Xanthan Gum, Polyisobutene, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Algin, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Pentylene Glycol C13-15 Alkane Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Dicaprylyl Carbonate Ethyl Macadamiate Behenyl Alcohol Butylene Glycol Silybum Marianum Seed Oil Lactobacillus/Coconut Fruit Juice Ferment Filtrate Lecithin Bakuchiol Hydrogenated Lecithin Allantoin Glycine Soja Oil Hexylene Glycol Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract Glycine Soja Sterols Citric Acid Sodium Phytate Malic Acid Ethylhexylglycerin Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Tranexamic Acid, C13-15 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Lactobacillus/Coconut Fruit Juice Ferment Filtrate, Lecithin, Bakuchiol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Allantoin, Glycine Soja Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Malic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin 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. 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). 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. Glyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive. Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture. This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic. A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier. Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range. Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally. Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging. And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin. You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this. In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it. If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare. When