Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Allies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster versus Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster .
Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on April 10, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 11 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid and niacinamide
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores and dark spots
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
Allies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster 40 ingredients
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster 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
Allies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster 40 ingredients
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster 25 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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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:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Allies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster 40 ingredients
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster 25 ingredients
Water • Niacinamide • Glycerin • Dimethyl Isosorbide • Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide • Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Punica Granatum Extract • Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract • Lactobacillus • Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice • Bisabolol • CI 77820 • Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer-3 • Lysophosphatidic Acid • Lecithin • Laminaria Digitata Extract • Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate • Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract • Sodium Hyaluronate • Ribose • Ubiquinone • Chlorella Vulgaris Extract • Saccharide Isomerate • Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract • Astaxanthin • Ergothioneine • Glutathione • Tocopheryl Acetate • Sea Water • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Maltodextrin • Ethylhexylglycerin • Xanthan Gum • Citric Acid • Polysorbate 20 • O-Cymen-5-Ol • Sodium Gluconate • Sodium Hydroxide • Phenoxyethanol
Water • Niacinamide • Acetyl Glucosamine • Ascorbyl Glucoside • Butylene Glycol • Phospholipids • Sodium Hyaluronate • Allantoin • Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract • Glycerin • Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Ubiquinone • Epigallocatechin Gallate • Beta-Glucan • Panthenol • Carnosine • Genistein • Citric Acid • Sodium Citrate • Sodium Hydroxide • Xanthan Gum • Disodium EDTA • Ethylhexylglycerin • Phenoxyethanol
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 WaterAllies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster 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 NiacinamideAllies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster contains this as ingredient number 2.
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster 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 GlycerinAllies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster contains this as ingredient number 3.
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster contains this as ingredient number 10.
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractAllies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster contains this as ingredient number 7.
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster contains this as ingredient number 12.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateAllies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster contains this as ingredient number 20.
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster contains this as ingredient number 7.
Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10) is a molecule already found in our bodies. It is a potent antioxidant and skin-soothing ingredient.
Aging and environmental exposure diminishes our skin's natural ubiquinone levels. This is much like our natural collagen and elastin.
The good news is: studies show applying this ingredient topically replenishes ubiquinone levels in our skin. This also comes with a ton of skin benefits. These benefits include:
Ubiquinone is considered a large molecule and cannot be absorbed into the lower layers of skin. This is why it is believed to be such an effective antioxidant: it protects our skin in the upper layers and prevents damage in the deeper layers.
When used in sunscreen, ubiquinone is shown to increase ingredient stability, increase SPF factor, and add to infrared protection.
Fun fact: ubiquinone is fat-soluble.
Learn more about UbiquinoneAllies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster contains this as ingredient number 22.
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster contains this as ingredient number 13.
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.
Allies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster contains this as ingredient number 33.
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster 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 GumAllies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster contains this as ingredient number 34.
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster contains this as ingredient number 22.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidAllies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster contains this as ingredient number 35.
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster contains this as ingredient number 19.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideAllies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster contains this as ingredient number 39.
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster contains this as ingredient number 21.
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.
Allies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster contains this as ingredient number 40.
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster contains this as ingredient number 25.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Allies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster 40 ingredients
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster 25 ingredients
Usage
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When to use
Allies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster 40 ingredients
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster 25 ingredients
Reviews
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Allies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster 40 ingredients
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster 25 ingredients
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