What is the Difference Between Functional and Performance Ingredients?

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The main difference between functional and performance ingredients lies in their roles within a product. Functional ingredients are components that make a product work, while performance ingredients are the components that give the desired outcome in the body.

Functional Ingredients:

  • Also known as vehicles, they make up the majority of a product.
  • They allow products to spread, give body, texture, and form.
  • Examples include emulsions, parabens, and preservatives.

Performance Ingredients:

  • Cause the actual changes in the appearance of skin.
  • They create physiological changes within your skin tissues.
  • Examples include hydroxy acids used in anti-aging and exfoliation products, tretinoin, or benzoyl peroxide.

In summary, functional ingredients help a product function and have a desirable texture, while performance ingredients provide the desired outcome or benefit to the user.

Comparative Table: Functional vs Performance Ingredients

Functional and performance ingredients are both important components in various products, including skincare, food, pharmaceuticals, and supplements. They have different roles in the body and outside the body. Here is a table highlighting the differences between functional and performance ingredients:

Functional Ingredients Performance Ingredients
Make the product work properly Cause changes in the body
Components of a cosmetic product that provide benefits Sometimes known as active ingredients
Examples include detergents, conditioning agents, moisturizers, and colorants in make-ups Examples include hydroxyl acids in skincare products

In summary, functional ingredients are the components that make a product work, while performance ingredients are the components that cause changes in the body or provide the desired outcome.