The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Versus The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Versus The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum Detailed comparison of The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% versus The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum. This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores. This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Panthenol to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier. No concerns 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 Hyaluronate Propanediol Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer Phospholipids Sphingolipids Panthenol Ahnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract Glycerin Polysorbate 20 Citric Acid Sodium Citrate P-Anisic Acid Tocopherol Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Caprylyl Glycol Ethylhexylglycerin Hexylene Glycol Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Panthenol, Ahnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, P-Anisic Acid, Tocopherol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol. Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria. Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin. Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin. Ethoxydiglycol (aka Diethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether) is one of the cosmetic world's quiet problem solvers. In a formula, it is a solvent that dissolves tricky ingredients that don't want to mix in and helps spread ingredients evenly across your skin without leaving a greasy or sticky feeling This makes it great for hard-to-dissolve actives like vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, and self-tanner DHA. It also has mild humectant and penetration enhancer abilities so it can help some actives absorb a little deeper. The penetration boost is backed by lab research: studies using human skin samples found it improved how well an active dissolves into the upper layer of skin rather than tearing down your skin barrier. Reviews of its mechanism also describe it interacting gently with the lipids and water in your outermost layer of skin. Just know this penetration-enhancing effect is not universal. It helps a lot in some formulas and did very little in others (so the benefit really depends on the specific product). Safety-wise, the evidence is reassuring. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel reviewed it and concluded it's safe for use in cosmetics and recognized it as non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-comedogenic in skincare. Typical leave-on skincare usage lands around 1-10%. The EU has sets caps of 2.6% in non-spray products, 10% in rinse-offs, 7% in oxidative hair dye, and 5% in non-oxidative hair dye. Pentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula: Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses. On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations. Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%. 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