Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% versus Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum .
Last updated on October 16, 2023. Published on October 28, 2022
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan, fungal acne (malassezia) safe, and reef safe serums. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid and niacinamide
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
The Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% 25 ingredients
Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum 20 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
The Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% 25 ingredients
Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum 20 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
The Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% 25 ingredients
Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum 20 ingredients
Water • 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 • Propanediol • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Isononyl Isononanoate • 1,2-Hexanediol • Niacinamide • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer • Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate • Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate • Coptis Japonica Root Extract • Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract • Tocopherol • Butylene Glycol • Pentylene Glycol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Citric Acid • Sodium Citrate • Dextrin • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterThe Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 1.
Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Niacinamide 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 NiacinamideThe Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 2.
Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
1,2-Hexanediol is a multi-tasker ingredient. It acts as a preservative to increase shelf-life and can aid other preservatives in preventing microbe growth. 1,2-Hexanediol also helps the skin retain moisture as a humectant.
In products that are water-based, this ingredient can help stabilize perfumes and fragrances. It can also help make the texture of products softer and more smooth.
The Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 7.
Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.
Butylene 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.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
The Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 9.
Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolThe Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 14.
Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
Sodium 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: Sodium Hyaluronate Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid Hyaluronic Acid
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateThe Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 20.
Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateThe Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 22.
Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a type of hyaluronic acid. In fact, it is modified version of hyaluronic acid.
The structure of Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer allows it to stay in the skin's top layer for a longer period of time. This allows for even more hydration and humectant action than hyaluronic acid.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerThe Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 23.
Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.
This ingredient is created by putting sodium hyaluronate through hydrolysis.
You might know this as 'mini' or 'ultra low-molecular weight' hyaluronic acid. The small molecule size means it is able to travel deeper in the skin.
According to studies, low molecular-weight hyaluronic acid can:
One study from 2011 found ultra-low weight HA to show pro-inflammatory properties. Another study from 2022 found it to downregulate UV-B induced inflammation.
Hydrolysis is a process of changing a molecule using water or enzymes.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Sodium HyaluronateThe Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 24.
Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
The Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 25.
Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
The Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% 25 ingredients
Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum 20 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
The Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% 25 ingredients
Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum 20 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
The Purest Solutions Niacinamide 5% + Zinc PCA 1% 25 ingredients
Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum 20 ingredients
Makes u SO glowy in the morning as and helps skin feel moisturized
Makes u SO glowy in the morning as and helps skin feel moisturized
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