beauty drops Niacinamide 12% + Zinc PCA 1% Versus Balea Niacinamide Serum

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of beauty drops Niacinamide 12% + Zinc PCA 1% versus Balea Niacinamide Serum .

Published on January 07, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain niacinamide

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, 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.

Try a different comparison

beauty drops Niacinamide 12% + Zinc PCA 1%

Balea Niacinamide Serum

Serum Spanish Brand Spain

Serum German Brand Germany

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy Niacinamide 12% + Zinc PCA 1%

Shop

Buy Niacinamide Serum

Starts at $14.99

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

beauty drops Niacinamide 12% + Zinc PCA 1% 16 ingredients

Balea Niacinamide Serum 16 ingredients

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

beauty drops Niacinamide 12% + Zinc PCA 1% 16 ingredients

Balea Niacinamide Serum 16 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Niacinamide

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing (2)

Reduces Large Pores

Dark Spots

Scar Healing

Acne Fighting (2)

Brightening (2)

Notable Ingredients

Niacinamide

Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing (3)

Reduces Irritation (3)

Reduces Large Pores

Dark Spots

Scar Healing (2)

Acne Fighting (2)

Brightening (2)

Join our community

Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.

Join SkinSort

Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

beauty drops Niacinamide 12% + Zinc PCA 1% 16 ingredients

Balea Niacinamide Serum 16 ingredients

Water • Niacinamide • Glycerin • Pentylene Glycol • Propanediol • Zinc PCA • Ppg-26-Buteth-26 • 1,2-Hexanediol • Caprylyl Glycol • Xanthan Gum • Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Ethylhexylglycerin • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Panax Ginseng Root Extract • Potassium Sorbate • Sodium Benzoate

Water • Niacinamide • Glycerin • Pentylene Glycol • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Zinc PCA • Panthenol • Phenoxyethanol • Cellulose Gum • Allantoin • Sodium Benzoate • Citric Acid • Xanthan Gum • Ethylhexylglycerin • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Sodium Hyaluronate

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

Loading ingredients...

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Water

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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 Water

beauty drops Niacinamide 12% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 1.

Balea Niacinamide Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Niacinamide

What it does: Smoothing

Community Rating: Loved

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 Niacinamide

beauty drops Niacinamide 12% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 2.

Balea Niacinamide Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

Glycerin

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

beauty drops Niacinamide 12% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 3.

Balea Niacinamide Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

Pentylene Glycol

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Mixed

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 Glycol

beauty drops Niacinamide 12% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 4.

Balea Niacinamide Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

Zinc PCA

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Zinc PCA (or "zinc salt") differs slightly from zinc itself. PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid. However, Zinc PCA comes from zinc.

It can help reduce redness, regulate sebum, and promote the general healing process of the skin.

Zinc PCA tends to be especially useful for those with oily, acne-prone skin. It's certainly an ingredient worth trying out!

Learn more about Zinc PCA

beauty drops Niacinamide 12% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 6.

Balea Niacinamide Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

Xanthan Gum

What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan 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

beauty drops Niacinamide 12% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 10.

Balea Niacinamide Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

Ethylhexylglycerin

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Mixed

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.

beauty drops Niacinamide 12% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 12.

Balea Niacinamide Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.

Sodium Benzoate

What it does: Masking, Preservative

Community Rating: Disliked

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

Sodium Benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Sodium Benzoate

beauty drops Niacinamide 12% + Zinc PCA 1% contains this as ingredient number 16.

Balea Niacinamide Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.