Biologique Recherche Crème Dermopurifiante Purifying Face Cream Versus COSRX AHA/BHA Refresh Vitamin C Daily Cream
This oil-control moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide to balance excess oil and clear breakouts.
This brightening day moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide to brighten dull-looking skin and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSucrose Polystearate
EmollientC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyamide-5
Skin ConditioningArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBetula Alba Bark Extract
MaskingEnantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentMimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSpiraea Ulmaria Extract
AstringentArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingThymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingMyrtus Communis Extract
AstringentAllium Cepa Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningCommiphora Myrrha Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSorbic Acid
PreservativeWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butylene Glycol, Sucrose Polystearate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Cetyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Polyamide-5, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Myrtus Communis Extract, Allium Cepa Bulb Extract, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Oleanolic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil, Yeast Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, T-Butyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid
Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientHylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Water
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBetaine
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantMenthyl Lactate
MaskingMentha Haplocalix Extract
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantLactobionic Acid
BufferingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingBetaine Salicylate
AntimicrobialAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantGlycolic Acid
BufferingWater
Skin ConditioningActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Betaine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Arginine, Panthenol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Allantoin, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alpha-Arbutin, Menthyl Lactate, Mentha Haplocalix Extract, Tocopherol, Lactobionic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Betaine Salicylate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glycolic Acid, Water
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
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.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolNiacinamide 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.
Learn more about NiacinamideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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!
Learn more about Water