Superdrug Vitamin C Booster Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Superdrug Vitamin C Booster Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

This brightening serum is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate 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

Glycereth-26

Propylene Glycol

Polysorbate 60

Dimethicone

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Butylene Glycol

Phenoxyethanol

Glycerin

Caprylyl Glycol

Carbomer

Xanthan Gum

Parfum

Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract

Alcohol Denat.

Disodium EDTA

Polyacrylamide

Sodium Hydroxide

Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract

Benzophenone-4

C13-14 Isoparaffin

Laureth-7

Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

CI 15985

Water, Glycereth-26, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Dimethicone, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Alcohol Denat., Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylamide, Sodium Hydroxide, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Benzophenone-4, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 15985

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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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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