Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Serum Rapid Brightening Treatment with Ferment² + Vitamin C Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Serum Rapid Brightening Treatment with Ferment² + Vitamin C Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside and Acetyl Glucosamine to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.

This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Butylene Glycol

Glycerin

Glycereth-26

Isononyl Isononanoate

Dimethicone

Propanediol

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Algae Extract

Sucrose

Acetyl Glucosamine

Hydroxyethyl Urea

Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract

Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Molasses Extract

Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract

Hordeum Vulgare Extract

Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract

Salicylic Acid

Hydrolyzed Prunus Domestica

Caffeine

Sodium Lactate

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Squalane

Oryzanol

Resveratrol

Sodium Hyaluronate

Sodium PCA

Ethylhexylglycerin

Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane

Tocopheryl Acetate

PEG-75

Oleth-3 Phosphate

Sorbitol

Caprylyl Glycol

Oleth-3

Sodium Polyaspartate

Oleth-5

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Propylene Glycol Caprylate

Dextrin

Faex Extract

Choleth-24

Carbomer

Sodium Hydroxide

Ceteth-24

Xanthan Gum

Parfum

Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer

Citric Acid

Sodium Citrate

Disodium EDTA

BHT

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Phenoxyethanol

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Algae Extract, Sucrose, Acetyl Glucosamine, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Molasses Extract, Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Salicylic Acid, Hydrolyzed Prunus Domestica, Caffeine, Sodium Lactate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Squalane, Oryzanol, Resveratrol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-75, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Sorbitol, Caprylyl Glycol, Oleth-3, Sodium Polyaspartate, Oleth-5, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol Caprylate, Dextrin, Faex Extract, Choleth-24, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Ceteth-24, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol

Niacinamide 10%

Pentylene Glycol

Zinc PCA 1%

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum

Isoceteth-20

Ethoxydiglycol

Chlorphenesin

Water, Niacinamide 10%, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA 1%, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

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Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

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.

Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).

You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.

Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.

Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.

Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

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