Versus

Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Serum Rapid Brightening Treatment with Ferment² + Vitamin C Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Serum
Serum
American Brand United States
Canadian Brand Canada

Updated on March 04, 2025

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 3 ingredients in common

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 and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Perfectionist Pro Serum Rapid Brightening Treatment with Ferment² + Vitamin C

Water

Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Glycereth-26

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Isononyl Isononanoate

Emollient

Dimethicone

Emollient
1 / 0 Silicon Icon

Propanediol

Solvent
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Algae Extract

Emollient
May worsen Oily Skin Icon

Sucrose

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Acetyl Glucosamine

Skin Conditioning

Hydroxyethyl Urea

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation Icon

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Saccharum Officinarum Extract

Moisturising

Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract

Perfuming
Fragrance Icon

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Abrasive
Exfoliant IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract

Skin Conditioning

Hordeum Vulgare Extract

Emollient

Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract

Skin Conditioning

Salicylic Acid

Masking
BHA IconPreservative IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Hydrolyzed Prunus Domestica

Skin Conditioning

Caffeine

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Sodium Lactate

Buffering

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Humectant
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Squalane

Emollient
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Oryzanol

Skin Conditioning

Resveratrol

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Sodium PCA

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane

Emollient

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant Icon

PEG-75

Humectant

Oleth-3 Phosphate

2 / 2

Sorbitol

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Oleth-3

Emulsifying
5 / 2

Sodium Polyaspartate

Humectant

Oleth-5

Emulsifying
3 / 0 Bad for Acne Prone Skin Icon

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Propylene Glycol Caprylate

Skin Conditioning

Dextrin

Absorbent

Yeast Extract

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Choleth-24

Emulsifying
0 / 0

Carbomer

Emulsion Stabilising
1 / 0

Sodium Hydroxide

Buffering

Ceteth-24

Cleansing

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Parfum

Masking
Fragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer

Humectant

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Sodium Citrate

Buffering

Disodium EDTA

BHT

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Sodium Benzoate

Masking
Preservative Icon

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

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 Gum
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.

When to use

19 Routines
79% use in am
21% use in pm
95% use every day
16,103 Routines
48% use in am
52% use in pm
94% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Serum Rapid Brightening Treatment with Ferment² + Vitamin C 59 ingredients

Perfectionist Pro Serum Rapid Brightening Treatment with Ferment² + Vitamin C hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% 11 ingredients

3.2 /5
from 244 ratings
Great Value (57) Broke Me Out (49) Irritating (48)
Clover's avatar

Clover

1 year ago
Review

Gotta give credit where credit is due
WOW… lot of people ganging up on this incredibly affordable/popular serum. I understand the criticisms, but personally I don’t believe the intensity is warranted. For so many people this was the start of their skincare journey; it certainly was mine! And because I had never used ingredients like niacinamide or zinc on my face before, of course I noticed an Show more

nicolecrs's avatar

nicolecrs

9 months ago
Review

I've repurchased this so many times and tried different niacinamide serums but this one is my fav. It improves my hormonal acne so much and controls sebum production. Also, when I had the worst fungal acne flare-up ever, this and the lactic acid 5% SAVED ME. It burned a lot but now I don't have any bumps whatsoever. It won't work immediately so consistency is key. (I have combo-oily skin)

#great value
#light
#absorbs well
#light scent