Remedy For Daily Defense 15% Vitamin C Antioxidant Complex Brightening Serum Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
This brightening serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Lactate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Escin
TonicRuscus Aculeatus Root Extract
Astringent
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Spirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Acetyl Zingerone
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Propanediol, Squalane, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Escin, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ectoin, Ergothioneine, Superoxide Dismutase, Acetyl Zingerone, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ferulic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
