Numbuzin No.1 Pantothenic B5 Active Soothing Serum Versus La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Serum For Dry Skin
This calming serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthenol to calm redness and balance excess oil.
This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Panthenol and Vitreoscilla Ferment to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
SolventDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventTromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Betaine
HumectantPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientSodium Phytate
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
EmulsifyingZinc PCA
HumectantMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
AntioxidantCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract
AstringentPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Betaine, Pantothenic Acid, Trehalose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Phytate, Allantoin, Alpha-Arbutin, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Lauryl Glucoside, Myristyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Zinc PCA, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Beta-Glucan, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Beta-Sitosterol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDimethicone
EmollientHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientVitreoscilla Ferment
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Panthenol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Octyldodecanol, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol 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