Pond's Clarant B3 Dark Spot Correcting Cream Versus Peter Thomas Roth PRO Strength Niacinamide Discoloration Treatment
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberTriethanolamine
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingMethylparaben
PreservativeGlutamic Acid
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantPropylparaben
PreservativeHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Stearic Acid, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Myristate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Triethanolamine, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Methylparaben, Glutamic Acid, Sodium PCA, Propylparaben, Hydroxystearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pyridoxine Hcl, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventTranexamic Acid
AstringentDimethicone
EmollientPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientC9-12 Alkane
SolventCetyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingKojic Acid
AntioxidantMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingResveratrol
AntioxidantScutellaria Lateriflora Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrangea Arborescens Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-100 Stearate
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-75 Stearate
Ceteareth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingSilica
AbrasiveAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Phytate
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingWater, Niacinamide, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tranexamic Acid, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alpha-Arbutin, Glyceryl Stearate, C9-12 Alkane, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Citric Acid, Kojic Acid, Morus Alba Root Extract, Resveratrol, Scutellaria Lateriflora Extract, Hydrangea Arborescens Root Extract, Squalane, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100 Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, PEG-75 Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Steareth-20, Silica, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Phytate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Polysorbate 60, Polysorbate 20, T-Butyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl 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 AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl 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