Neue Brightening Versus Obagi Nu-Derm Blend Fx
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Paraffin
Perfuming
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-20 Glyceryl Stearate
Emulsifying
Glutathione
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Triethanolamine
BufferingWater, Disodium EDTA, Paraffinum Liquidum, Paraffin, Carbomer, Stearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-20 Glyceryl Stearate, Glutathione, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, DMDM Hydantoin, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, BHT, Triethanolamine
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arbutin
Antioxidant
PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
Emollient
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Tea-Salicylate
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Saponins
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenPropylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben with antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
This ingredient can be naturally found in plants and insects, but most of it is synthetically manufactured for human use. In cosmetics, it is usually created by reacting para-aminobenzoic acid and propanol (an alcohol).
You can usually find this ingredient in water-based products.
Parabens have come under controversy due to the claim they are hormone disruptors. Studies show conflicting results. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Propylparaben is commonly found in food, medicine, and cosmetics.
Learn more about PropylparabenTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
