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Product Comparison

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.

Serum South Korean Brand South Korea
Serum French Brand France

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 The Niacinamide 15 Serum

Starts at $15.29
Shop

Buy 12% Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid Dark Spot Serum

Starts at $27.95

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant 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

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E
Niacinamide

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation
Reduces Large Pores
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (2)

Notable Ingredients

AHA
Vitamin E
Exfoliators
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (2)
Scar Healing (2)
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (3)
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Ingredients Side-by-side

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

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

1
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

COSRX 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.

2
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

COSRX 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.

3
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

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 Acid

COSRX 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.

4
What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

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 Tocopherol

COSRX 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.

60% are loved or liked
27% have mixed ratings
13% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet
28% are loved or liked
10% have mixed ratings
55% are disliked or very disliked
7% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum 15 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 3 ratings
ChienYun_CY's avatar

ChienYun_CY

7 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

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

12% Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid Dark Spot Serum hasn't been rated yet.
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Alternatives

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Our Dupe Finder has found 12 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to L'Oreal 12% Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid Dark Spot Serum.

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