The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Versus Origins Original Skin Matte Moisturizer with Willowherb

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Versus Origins Original Skin Matte Moisturizer with Willowherb

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

This oil-control moisturizer is formulated around Silica and Salicylic Acid 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 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

Dimethicone

Alcohol Denat.

Glycerin

Silica

Butylene Glycol

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Citrus Limon Peel Oil

Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil

Lavandula Angustifolia Oil

Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil

Rosa Damascena Flower Oil

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil

Zingiber Officinale Root Oil

Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil

Limonene

Linalool

Citronellol

Citral

Geraniol

Eugenol

Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract

Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Cistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Sucrose

Bambusa Vulgaris Extract

Pisum Sativum Extract

Castanea Sativa Seed Extract

Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract

Salicylic Acid

Caffeine

Arginine

Sodium Hyaluronate

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Laminaria Saccharina Extract

Laminaria Digitata Extract

Phospholipids

Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters

Glucosamine Hcl

Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Cera Alba

Caprylyl Glycol

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Tocopheryl Acetate

Tromethamine

Silica Silylate

Hexylene Glycol

Sodium Polyacrylate

Disodium EDTA

Mica

CI 77891

CI 77491

Water, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Citral, Geraniol, Eugenol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Cistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sucrose, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Salicylic Acid, Caffeine, Arginine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Phospholipids, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Glucosamine Hcl, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cera Alba, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tromethamine, Silica Silylate, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77491

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!

Similar Comparisons