Shiseido WASO: Soft & Cushy Polishing Exfoliator Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Shiseido WASO: Soft & Cushy Polishing Exfoliator Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

This oil-control exfoliator is formulated around Cellulose to balance excess oil.

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

No key ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Microcrystalline Cellulose

Sd Alcohol 40-B

Cellulose

Dipropylene Glycol

Hydrolyzed Corn Starch

Glycerin

Dimethicone

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate

Phenoxyethanol

Carbomer

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose

Parfum

Betaine

Potassium Hydroxide

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Xanthan Gum

Limonene

Hexyl Cinnamal

Butylphenyl Methylpropional

Sodium Metaphosphate

Disodium EDTA

Hydrogenated Lecithin

CI 77492

Water, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Cellulose, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Parfum, Betaine, Potassium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Sodium Metaphosphate, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, CI 77492

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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