Versus

Cos De BAHA Azelaic Acid 5% Facial Serum Versus Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide

Serum
Serum
Korean Brand South Korea
Korean Brand South Korea

Updated on October 10, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 3 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, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Smoothing

Niacinamide 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 Niacinamide
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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 
Humectant, Skin Conditioning

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 Hyaluronate

When to use

85 Routines
41% use in am
59% use in pm
84% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
2,947 Routines
49% use in am
51% use in pm
91% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Cos De BAHA Azelaic Acid 5% Facial Serum 14 ingredients

4.7 /5
from 3 ratings
No Scent (3) Works Well (3) Hydrating (2)
Cloudynights's avatar

cloudynights

4 months ago
Review

Got this for my spouse to help with eczema, but I ended up using it too to treat a fungal acne break out. I saw improvements very quickly. Very pleased. Not much of a smell, doesn't irritate my skin. Would recommend. They also have higher percents as well.

#light
#no scent
#works well
Auria's avatar

Auria

3 months ago
Review

First time using Azelaic acid and it has helped with redness reduction and my cystic acne flareups. I started using this 2-3x times a week to avoid using too many actives and I feel that 5% is a bit slow to see faster results. I think my skin can tolerate a higher concentration so I will be testing out the 10% version at some other time. The texture of the serum is on the thicker side and does Show more

#hydrating
#sticky
#no scent
#works well

Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide 30 ingredients

2.9 /5
from 63 ratings
Doesn't Work (17) Sticky (16) Hydrating (14)
AllyW's avatar

Aliyah Williams

10 months ago
Review

Been using this for years. As a one with hotmonal, ance-prone skin, this one has helped reduce scarring significantly! Still get acne and scars but they never stick around for long. Compatible with my sensitive skin! Get ezcema flair ups around my eyes occasionally due to weather tho

#great value
#works well

absolute blessing. it has such a pretty smell and absorbs really well and is light. i don’t think it clogs your pores but i don’t feel it clogged mine (i struggled with closed comedones). definitely recommend for normal to oily/combo skin. makes my skin a little bit shiny but not that much

#expensive
#light
#absorbs well
#sticky