The Ordinary Amino Acids + B5 Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

The Ordinary Amino Acids + B5 Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Detailed comparison of The Ordinary Amino Acids + B5 versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium PCA and Panthenol to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier. This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores. No key ingredients No concerns Water Propanediol Betaine Sodium PCA Panthenol Sodium Lactate Arginine PCA Aspartic Acid Glycine Alanine Serine Threonine Valine Proline Isoleucine Lysine Hcl Histidine Phenylalanine Glutamic Acid Citric Acid Dimethyl Isosorbide Polysorbate 20 Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate 1,2-Hexanediol Caprylyl Glycol Water, Propanediol, Betaine, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Sodium Lactate, Arginine, PCA, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Threonine, Valine, Proline, Isoleucine, Lysine Hcl, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glutamic Acid, Citric Acid, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Polysorbate 20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol Niacinamide 10% Pentylene Glycol Zinc PCA 1% 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 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!