Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Glow yes acne no
Well it's my first time trying niacinamide and I don't like it (new red spots appeared) , or maybe I am allergic to propolis idkn tbh, but it does give glow

Glow yes acne no
Well it's my first time trying niacinamide and I don't like it (new red spots appeared) , or maybe I am allergic to propolis idkn tbh, but it does give glow

I also got acne from this
Like others have said, I also got acne from using this (never seen such reviews on other websites). It's VERY hydrating and it repairs your skin barrier, but it caused a lot of acne on my forehead. I stopped...

I also got acne from this
Like others have said, I also got acne from using this (never seen such reviews on other websites). It's VERY hydrating and it repairs your skin barrier, but it caused a lot of acne on my forehead. I stopped using it on my forehead after about 3 weeks and the acne went away. I used other niacinamide products without an issue before but I tried propolis for the first time. I'm not sure if that's the cause of acne. Before using this, though, my cheeks were very dry due to the cold dry weather and previous retinol attempts. I can say that it seems to have helped with that. So, I kept using it below my forehead, but I wouldn't purchase it again.

not for me
i like the consistency but that’s about it. really tried to like this product as i went through two bottles of it. everytime i used this product it would leave a shiny film on my skin that would pill under makeup and/or...

not for me
i like the consistency but that’s about it. really tried to like this product as i went through two bottles of it. everytime i used this product it would leave a shiny film on my skin that would pill under makeup and/or moisturizer no matter what i did. i suspect it also caused closed comedones from product buildup. after i ceased use the pilling and cc’s went away. didn’t improve my skin in any way.

Gotta give credit where credit is due
WOW… lot of people ganging up on this incredibly affordable/popular serum. I understand the criticisms, but personally I don’t believe the intensity is warranted. For so many people this was the...

Gotta give credit where credit is due
WOW… lot of people ganging up on this incredibly affordable/popular serum. I understand the criticisms, but personally I don’t believe the intensity is warranted. For so many people this was the start of their skincare journey; it certainly was mine! And because I had never used ingredients like niacinamide or zinc on my face before, of course I noticed an incredible improvement in regards to my acne and skin tone evenness. This is a good serum to start with. No, you don’t need 10% strength (2%-5% works well) and for some that 10% can be irritating. However most people can handle 10% just fine so it’s not something many need worry about. The formulation isn’t elegant and sometimes it gets frothy or pills when you try to rub this in— BUT this is $6! You can’t really beat The Ordinary’s prices, and for some people $6 is all they can afford to spend on skincare so this is a good affordable option.
If you already have effective products with niacinamide in your routine, you do not need to add this in because it won’t really do anything for you. But if you’re just washing your face with something like dish soap then of course this will make an incredible difference. You’ll probably move on from it eventually, but it’s an effective place to start. Wishing everyone the best on their skincare journey. <3

(Tried Jan 2021) This was actually the product that made me realize that my skin does not mix with Niacinamide (especially at high concentrations because I can usually tolerate it at %4/less or when it isn't a primary ingredient). I...

(Tried Jan 2021) This was actually the product that made me realize that my skin does not mix with Niacinamide (especially at high concentrations because I can usually tolerate it at %4/less or when it isn't a primary ingredient). I tested it on my wrist and a small patch on my cheek to check, and I had hives in both areas. I wouldn't want to give this a poor rating solely on the account of my allergic reaction as I'm sure it works for many others.

This irritated my skin really badly stinging, redness, burning, etc this is probably due to the unnecessarily high concentration of niacinamide. Many studies show you only really need between 2-5% of niacinamide to be effective...

This irritated my skin really badly stinging, redness, burning, etc this is probably due to the unnecessarily high concentration of niacinamide. Many studies show you only really need between 2-5% of niacinamide to be effective definitely not worth the risk if you have sensitive skin there's much better alternatives out there. It's good value for money but I still wouldn't recommend it.