The Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% Versus Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Serum
This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores.
This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingZinc PCA
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Salix Purpurea Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingSodium Acetate
BufferingSodium PCA
Humectant
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose
Absorbent
Erythritol
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Carrageenan
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Zinc PCA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salix Purpurea Bark Extract, Butylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Sodium Acetate, Sodium PCA, Isopropyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Cellulose, Erythritol, Lactic Acid, Carrageenan, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Pleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPodocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Acacia Seyal Gum Extract
HumectantSr-Spider Polypeptide-1
Skin Protecting
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingRaphanus Sativus Root Extract
AstringentCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
ChelatingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Carrageenan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Formate
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Pleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract, Podocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Acacia Seyal Gum Extract, Sr-Spider Polypeptide-1, Pantothenic Acid, Phospholipids, Sodium Hydroxide, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Raphanus Sativus Root Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Potassium Sorbate, Propylene Glycol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carrageenan, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Formate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Carrageenan is a gel-forming sugar chain pulled out of red seaweed. In skincare, it's a texture ingredient rather than an active that:
Formulators typically use it around 0.1-2% but go up to 5% in thick gel masks or toothpaste-style products.
It's a very large molecule that doesn't meaningfully get through intact skin and the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it's safe at current use levels.
True allergy is rare and there are only two published cases from internal/mucosal exposure rather than anything topical. Most of the scary internet content about Carrageenan is actually about poligeenan (also called "degraded carrageenan").
Poligeenan is a deliberately acid-broken down version that isn't food or cosmetic grade.
Learn more about CarrageenanEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
