The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Versus Essano Advanced Brightening Vitamin C Concentrated Serum

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Versus Essano Advanced Brightening Vitamin C Concentrated Serum

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

This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate and Squalane to fade the look of dark spots.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Niacinamide 10%

Pentylene Glycol

Zinc PCA 1%

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum

Xanthan Gum

Isoceteth-20

Ethoxydiglycol

Phenoxyethanol

Chlorphenesin

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

Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate

Squalane

Coco-Caprylate

Glycerin

Betaine

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Tocopherol

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Rosa Canina Fruit Oil

Cetearyl Alcohol

Sodium Phytate

Potassium Sorbate

Benzyl Alcohol

Glyceryl Laurate

Citric Acid

Sodium Citrate

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Parfum

Water, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Squalane, Coco-Caprylate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glycerin, Betaine, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Laurate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Parfum

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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.

Dimethyl Isosorbide (often shortened to DMI) is a sugar-derived solvent made from sorbitol. It's used to dissolve tricky ingredients and help them mix smoothly into a formula.

Many actives sit as gritty crystals when undissolved, so DMI swoops in to full dissolve them. This helps improve texture, stability, and how evenly an active is distributed.

It does have a penetration-enhancing reputation that is a bit more nuanced than marketing suggests; a cell study on human skin found that 10% DMI didn't significantly boost the permeation of Hydroquinone, Salicylic Acid, or Octadecenedioic Acid compared to controls (though it did improve their solubility in the formula itself).

Typical usage concentrations usually range from 1-10% depending on the formula's needs; this ingredient is also well tolerated at these levels.

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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