The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Versus Fenty Beauty Total Cleans'r Remove-It-All Cleanser

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Versus Fenty Beauty Total Cleans'r Remove-It-All Cleanser

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

This mild gel cleanser is made to cleanse without leaving your skin tight or dry.

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

Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate

Sodium Cocoamphoacetate

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Sodium Chloride

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate

Glycerin

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Glycol Distearate

Sucrose

Malpighia Punicifolia Fruit Extract

Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Ficus Carica Fruit Extract

Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract

Tocopheryl Acetate

Coconut Acid

Sodium Cocoate

Sodium Metabisulfite

Polyquaternium-7

Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate

Butylene Glycol

Caprylyl Glycol

Sodium Benzoate

Parfum

Benzyl Salicylate

CI 42090

CI 16035

CI 77891

CI 19140

CI 15985

Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Glycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glycol Distearate, Sucrose, Malpighia Punicifolia Fruit Extract, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coconut Acid, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, CI 42090, CI 16035, CI 77891, CI 19140, CI 15985

Reviews

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!

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