Watsons Rice Bran & Soy Bean Illuminating Daily Cream Versus Barulab 530 S-Peptide Ampoule

Watsons Rice Bran & Soy Bean Illuminating Daily Cream Versus Barulab 530 S-Peptide Ampoule

This brightening day moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Glycine Soja Oil to brighten dull-looking skin and hydrate skin.

This calming ampoule is formulated around Propolis Extract and Niacinamide to calm redness and soften the look of wrinkles.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Cetearyl Alcohol

Dipropylene Glycol

Jojoba Esters

Niacinamide

Pentylene Glycol

Cetearyl Olivate

Sorbitan Olivate

1,2-Hexanediol

Hydroxyacetophenone

Palmitic Acid

Stearic Acid

Carbomer

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

Tromethamine

Parfum

Adenosine

Glycine Soja Oil

Citrus Limon Fruit Extract

Butyrospermum Parkii Nut Extract

Oryza Sativa Bran Oil

Oryza Sativa Bran Extract

Butylene Glycol

Sodium Benzoate

Citric Acid

Caprylyl Glycol

Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone

Linalool

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Jojoba Esters, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tromethamine, Parfum, Adenosine, Glycine Soja Oil, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Nut Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool

Propolis Extract 85.3%

Glycerin

Betaine

Sodium Carbomer

Ethylhexylglycerin

Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract

Borago Officinalis Extract

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

Allantoin

Panthenol

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate

Hyacinthus Orientalis Extract

Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract

Salvia Sclarea Extract

Disodium EDTA

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Sodium Polyacrylate

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Tocopherol

Honey Extract

Salix Alba Bark Extract

Beta-Glucan

Centella Asiatica Extract

Lecithin

Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Polysorbate 20

Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide

Copper Ascorbyl Phosphate Succinoyl Tripeptide-34

Oligopeptide-1

Oligopeptide-3

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Oligopeptide-6

Propolis Extract 85.3%, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water, Betaine, Sodium Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Borago Officinalis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hyacinthus Orientalis Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tocopherol, Honey Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Beta-Glucan, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lecithin, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 20, Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide, Copper Ascorbyl Phosphate Succinoyl Tripeptide-34, Oligopeptide-1, Oligopeptide-3, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Oligopeptide-6, Parfum

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.

It is a:

Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin

Emollient, helping to soften skin

Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas

Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives

Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that your body already makes in every cell. In skincare, it acts mainly as a skin conditioning and anti-aging agent.

The way it works is fairly well mapped out:

Your skin has cells called fibroblasts that build collagen (the stuff that keeps skin firm and smooth). Adenosine basically flips a switch on these cells that tells them to get to work making more collagen and other proteins. These cells slow down on their own as skin ages, so Adenosine helps give them a little nudge to keep going.

The clinical backing is pretty solid too.

A blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 126 women aged 45-65 tested a 0.1% cream twice daily and found real improvements in crow's feet and frown lines using a precise 3D skin-mapping technique; these changes showed up by week 3 and held at 2 months.

A later study using Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches reported gains in wrinkle depth, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration.

On concentrations, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has set 0.04% as the approved functional anti-wrinkle level. You'll typically see this ingredient used somewhere in the 0.04-0.1% range since it works at low doses.

This ingredient has been found safe for cosmetics with the data showing no irritation or sensitization.

Overall, this is a great ingredient for any anti-aging routine and has no photosensitizing effect, so it suits both AM and PM use.

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.

And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.

You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.

In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.

If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.

In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).

Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.

Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.

The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.

Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.

The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.

One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

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