SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense Versus La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Niacinamide Serum
Updated on February 16, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain exfoliants
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, oils, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols
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
SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense 11 ingredients
La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Niacinamide Serum 29 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense 11 ingredients
La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Niacinamide Serum 29 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingDimethicone
Emollient
Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Poloxamer 338
EmulsifyingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Octyldodecanol, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Tin Oxide, Sorbitan Oleate, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Isohexadecane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Poloxamer 338, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Isopropyl Myristate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 80, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.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 WaterWe don't have a description for Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid yet.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense 11 ingredients
La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Niacinamide Serum 29 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense 11 ingredients
La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Niacinamide Serum 29 ingredients
I applied a small amount to a dark spot. The next day I woke up with an inflamed cystic acne that just appeared out of nowhere. Looking at the ingredients now I am not surprised. Very disappointing, why do they make formulas like this???
