No7 Protect & Perfect Advanced Serum Bottle Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

No7 Protect & Perfect Advanced Serum Bottle Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Retinyl Palmitate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.

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

Ingredients Side-by-side

Dimethicone

Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Butylene Glycol

Glycerin

Alcohol Denat.

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone

Magnesium Sulfate

Phenoxyethanol

Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone

Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate

Hexyl Laurate

Retinyl Palmitate

Hydrolyzed Rice Protein

Propylene Glycol

Tocopheryl Acetate

Sorbitan Laurate

Salicylic Acid

Methylparaben

Ethylparaben

Carbomer

Medicago Sativa Extract

Polysorbate 20

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Panax Ginseng Root Extract

Morus Alba Leaf Extract

Sodium Benzoate

Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester

Tocopherol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Palmitoyl Oligopeptide

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Hexyl Laurate, Retinyl Palmitate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Laurate, Salicylic Acid, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Carbomer, Medicago Sativa Extract, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Water

Niacinamide 10%

Pentylene Glycol

Zinc PCA 1%

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum

Xanthan 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

Reviews

Be the first to review

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.

Similar Comparisons