PSA SKIN Visible Improvement Peptides & Niacinamide Serum Versus Geek & Gorgeous B-Bomb

PSA SKIN Visible Improvement Peptides & Niacinamide Serum Versus Geek & Gorgeous B-Bomb

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Acetyl Glucosamine 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

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Niacinamide

Glycerin

Propanediol

Ethyl Macadamiate

Isodecyl Neopentanoate

Butylene Glycol

Polysorbate 20

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

Acetyl Glucosamine

Beta-Glucan

Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment

Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract

Bisabolol

Panthenol

Tocopheryl Acetate

Allantoin

Ergothioneine

Laminaria Digitata Extract

Chlorella Vulgaris Extract

Oxidized Glutathione

Ubiquinone

Tocopherol

Dimethyl Sulfone

Sea Water

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38

Malic Acid

Sclerotium Gum

Xanthan Gum

Carbomer

Sodium Gluconate

Ethylhexylglycerin

Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin

Saccharide Isomerate

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Potassium Sorbate

Phenoxyethanol

Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Propanediol, Ethyl Macadamiate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Beta-Glucan, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract, Bisabolol, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Ergothioneine, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Oxidized Glutathione, Ubiquinone, Tocopherol, Dimethyl Sulfone, Sea Water, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Malic Acid, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Gluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol

Glycereth-26

Zinc PCA

Sarcosine

Pentylene Glycol

Water, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Zinc PCA, Sarcosine, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol

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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.

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.

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

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 incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.

In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).

Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.

Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.

The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.

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.

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

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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