This acne serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Centella Asiatica Extract to clear breakouts and calm redness.
This pore-care serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to refine the look of pores and balance excess oil.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCorchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Keiskei Extract
Antioxidant
Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
Antimicrobial
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
C12-13 Alketh-9
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Disodium EDTA
4-Terpineol
Masking
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Ethoxydiglycol, Methylpropanediol, Methyl Gluceth-20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Angelica Keiskei Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Octyldodecanol, Octyldodeceth-16, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Glycolipids, Asiatic Acid, C12-13 Alketh-9, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Pvp, Sodium Polyacrylate, Disodium EDTA, 4-Terpineol, Zinc PCA, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide 20%
Smoothing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Polysaccharides
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
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
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
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.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterZinc PCA is a clever two-in-one molecule: the zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA).
Think of it as two useful things bonded together; the PCA half is one of your skin's own natural moisturizing factors (NMF) so it helps hold water in the upper layers. On the other hand, the zinc half does the heavy lifting on oil and bacteria.
The zinc part slows down an enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT, the hormone that tells your oil glands to pump out more sebum. Less of that signal means less oil. It also gently fights acne-causing bacteria and soothes redness/irritation.
This is why Zinc PCA often shows up in products for oily, breakout-prone skin and greasy scalps.
One lab study also hinted it might have a small anti-aging perk because it seemed to protect collagen from UVA damage and even helped the skin make a bit more of it. That last bit is still early research done in a dish and not real skin, so take it as a nice bonus rather than a promise for now.
As for scar healing, the picture is more "maybe" than a firm yes. Zinc itself plays a real role in wound repair because it is a cofactor for the enzymes involved in collagen building, calming inflammation, and helping new skin cells cover a wound. Lower zinc levels are also linked to slower healing.
Most of the scar healing research is on zinc oxide or oral zinc rather than zinc PCA specifically, with a focus on healing fresh wounds instead of scars that are already there.
Direct evidence that zinc PCA improves the look of established scars is still limited at this time. Though it would be fair to say zinc PCA supports the general skin-repair environment thanks to its zinc content .
This ingredient is water-soluble and plays nicely with other actives like niacinamide and salicylic acid. It works best at mildly acidic formulas (~4-6 pH) and is effective at low levels. Around 0.1% is enough to be active and finished products commonly use it anywhere up to 4%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-drama multitasker that suits oily and acne-prone skin.
Learn more about Zinc PCA
