Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Advanced Clinicals 5% Niacinamide Serum versus Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment .
Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on October 12, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 6 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain niacinamide and Vitamin C
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Price
Ingredient Info
Advanced Clinicals 5% Niacinamide Serum 22 ingredients
Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment 25 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Advanced Clinicals 5% Niacinamide Serum 22 ingredients
Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment 25 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Benefits
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This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Advanced Clinicals 5% Niacinamide Serum 22 ingredients
Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment 25 ingredients
Water • Niacinamide • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract • Glycerin • Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer • Xylitylglucoside • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Ascorbic Acid • Anhydroxylitol • Ferulic Acid • Phenoxyethanol • Xanthan Gum • Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment • Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment • Hydroxyacetophenone • Xylitol • Glycol • Sodium Hyaluronate • Ethylhexylglycerin • Citric Acid • Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Water • Niacinamide • Pentylene Glycol • Butylene Glycol • Glycerin • Acetyl Glucosamine • Ascorbyl Glucoside • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Spiraea Ulmaria Extract • Portulaca Oleracea Extract • Camellia Japonica Flower Extract • Epigallocatechin Gallate • Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Allantoin • Lecithin • Pullulan • Panthenol • Silica • Xanthan Gum • Sclerotium Gum • Propanediol • Sodium Phytate • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterAdvanced Clinicals 5% Niacinamide Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment contains this as ingredient number 1.
Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
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.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamideAdvanced Clinicals 5% Niacinamide Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment contains this as ingredient number 2.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinAdvanced Clinicals 5% Niacinamide Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.
Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment contains this as ingredient number 5.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Advanced Clinicals 5% Niacinamide Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.
Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment contains this as ingredient number 24.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumAdvanced Clinicals 5% Niacinamide Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.
Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment contains this as ingredient number 20.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Advanced Clinicals 5% Niacinamide Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.
Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment contains this as ingredient number 25.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Advanced Clinicals 5% Niacinamide Serum 22 ingredients
Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment 25 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Advanced Clinicals 5% Niacinamide Serum 22 ingredients
Paula's Choice Clinical Niacinamide 20% Treatment 25 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Advanced Clinicals 5% Niacinamide Serum.
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