Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum versus L'Oreal 12% Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid Dark Spot Serum .
Last updated on November 02, 2023. Published on February 06, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for brightening skin, reducing pores and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, oils, parabens 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.
Price
Ingredient Info
COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum 15 ingredients
L'Oreal 12% Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid Dark Spot Serum 29 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum 15 ingredients
L'Oreal 12% Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid Dark Spot Serum 29 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.
Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum 15 ingredients
L'Oreal 12% Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid Dark Spot Serum 29 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Alcohol Denat. • Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid • Dimethicone • Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate • Octyldodecanol • Peg-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate • Citric Acid • Ferulic Acid • Phenylethyl Resorcinol • Sodium Hyaluronate • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate • Isopropyl Myristate • Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer • Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • CI 77891 • Isohexadecane • Mica • Poloxamer 338 • Polysorbate 80 • Sorbitan Oleate • Tin Oxide • Tocopherol • Xanthan Gum • Dimethiconol • Phenoxyethanol • Parfum
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 WaterCOSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
L'Oreal 12% Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid Dark Spot Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 GumCOSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
L'Oreal 12% Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid Dark Spot Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidCOSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.
L'Oreal 12% Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid Dark Spot Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolCOSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
L'Oreal 12% Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid Dark Spot Serum contains this as ingredient number 25.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum 15 ingredients
L'Oreal 12% Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid Dark Spot Serum 29 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum 15 ingredients
L'Oreal 12% Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid Dark Spot Serum 29 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum 15 ingredients
ChienYun_CY
HG acne scar serum
Initially, this serum had helped fade away most of my old acne scars. After while, I thought it didn't do anything more for my...
HG acne scar serum
Initially, this serum had helped fade away most of my old acne scars. After while, I thought it didn't do anything more for my new acne growth. So I ditched this serum for about 3 months and tried other new niacinamide products. I REGRET it. Soon after, I got more and more whiteheads and acne. My skin texture becomes uneven and dry. The new acne scars couldn't fade away at all. I decided to repurchase this serum, and almost immediately, my scars cleared and had reduced inflammation on new cystic acne. It also helped to control sebum production and I have lesser acne growth. One of the products I cannot live without.
L'Oreal 12% Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid Dark Spot Serum 29 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum.
See 50 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 12 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to L'Oreal 12% Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid Dark Spot Serum.
See 12 alternatives