PCA Skin Intensive Brightening Treatment 0.5 Pure Retinol Night Versus Noon Acno Solution
Updated on April 06, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe facial treatments. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain 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, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils or parabens
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
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
PCA Skin Intensive Brightening Treatment 0.5 Pure Retinol Night 34 ingredients
Noon Acno Solution 28 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
PCA Skin Intensive Brightening Treatment 0.5 Pure Retinol Night 34 ingredients
Noon Acno Solution 28 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
SolventDimethicone
Emollient
PEG-12 Glyceryl Dimyristate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Tapioca Starch Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Absorbent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Hexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingWater, Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Dimethicone, PEG-12 Glyceryl Dimyristate, Glycerin, Tapioca Starch Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Hexylresorcinol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Resveratrol, Phenoxyethanol, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trideceth-6, Disodium EDTA, Decyl Glucoside, Aminomethyl Propanol
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Perfluorobutyl Ether
SolventIsododecane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Boswellia Serrata Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Polysilicone-11
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientOligopeptide-10
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexyl Cocoate
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Sulfate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Honey Extract
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Water, Methyl Perfluorobutyl Ether, Isododecane, Propanediol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract, Polysilicone-11, Butylene Glycol, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Oligopeptide-10, Polysorbate 20, Triethanolamine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Benzoate, Honey Extract, Sodium Chloride
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
Learn more about IsododecaneNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolGlycerin 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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for Polysilicone-11 yet.
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.
Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.
Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.
The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.
Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Sodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDecyl Glucoside is a glucose-based surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Surfactants help clean the skin by trapping oil, sebum, and dirt to be washed away. As an emulsion stabilizer, it stabilizes the ingredients in a product by preventing them from separating.
This ingredient is biodegradable and non-toxic. This ingredient is commonly found in baby shampoos.
Decyl Glucoside is sometimes used to stabilize the UV filter Tinosorb.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideIngredient Ratings
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