Versus

Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum Versus Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Treatment Serum

Serum
Serum
American Brand United States
American Brand United States

Updated on March 12, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe serums. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, 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

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Treatment Serum

Water

Skin Conditioning

Propanediol

Solvent
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

C9-12 Alkane

Solvent

Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract

Astringent

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Tranexamic Acid

Astringent
Helps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Emulsion Stabilising

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Skin Conditioning
Vitamin C IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores Icon

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Psidium Guajava Seed Oil

Emollient
Oil Icon

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Ferulic Acid

Antimicrobial
Antioxidant IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Extract

Skin Conditioning

Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract

Astringent

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Skin Conditioning

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Corallina Officinalis Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate

Skin Conditioning
Peptide Icon

Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Hydroxyacetophenone

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Cleansing

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Betaine

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Lecithin

Emollient
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sodium Citrate

Buffering

Sodium Phytate

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Decyl Glucoside

Cleansing

Lauryl Glucoside

Cleansing

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.ย 

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 preservativesย 
Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Betaine is a common humectant (a substance that promotes retention of moisture). It's known to be gentle on the skin and can help balance hydration.

This ingredient is best for improving hydration and soothing irritated skin. Studies also show it helps even out skin tone.

Fun fact: Betaine is naturally created in the skin and body. The kind found within cosmetic products can be either plant-derived or synthetic.

Learn more about Betaine
Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

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
Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

When to use

1,660 Routines
50% use in am
50% use in pm
95% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
162 Routines
77% use in am
23% use in pm
88% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum 9 ingredients

4.7 /5
from 20 ratings
Great Value (10) Absorbs Well (9) Works Well (9)
Yvana_740's avatar

Yvana_740

1 year ago
Review

Very good for acne fighting and dark spots/hyperpigmentation/uneven skin tone. Brightens your skin, making it glow. Better than the Ordinary niacinamide in my opinion.

Khang69's avatar

K

2 months ago
Review

Performs very well on skin smoothening and brightening with Niacinamide.

Although the Cosrx 15 Niacinamide does better in terms of skin brightening and smoothing and breakout recovery with Zinc PCA and Allantoin, this one is less irritating and redness as well as more hydrating and less expensive. Really recommend it for dry and dull skin, sensitive

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#no scent

Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Treatment Serum 47 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 6 ratings
Works Well (2) Absorbs Well (1) Expensive (1)
Butter's avatar

Butter

1 year ago
Review

โ‹†.เณƒเฟ”*:๏ฝฅ ๐ŸคŽ

๐Ÿฅฅ ๐Œ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ฒ๐ฉ๐ž: ๐ƒ๐ซ๐ฒ/๐ฌ๐ž๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž, ๐š๐œ๐ง๐ž ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ž๐œ๐ณ๐ž๐ฆ๐š ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ž.

๐Ÿชด ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ:

ยทหš เผ˜โ‚Šยท อŸอŸอžอž๊’ฐโžณ ๐ˆ๐ญ'๐ฌ ๐๐ž๐Ÿ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ž๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ž๐Ÿ๐Ÿ๐ž๐œ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž ๐š๐ญ ๐›๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ž๐ง๐ข๐ง๐  ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐š๐ค๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐ž ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ž ๐ž๐ฏ๐ž๐ง. ๐๐ข๐œ๐ž ๐ญ๐ž๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž, ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐œ๐ค๐ฒ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ค๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฐ๐ž๐ฅ๐ฅ. ๐‡๐ž๐ฅ๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐Ÿ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐š๐œ๐ง๐ž ๐ญ๐จ๐จ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐Ÿ๐ž๐ž๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐ž๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ .

๐ŸŒต ๐‚๐จ๐ง๐ฌ:

โ•ฐโ”ˆโžค ๐ˆ ๐ ๐จ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐š๐ฌ ๐š "๐Ÿ๐ซ๐ž๐ž ๐ ๐ข๐Ÿ๐ญ" (๐Ÿ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ณ๐ž๐) ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐š ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐›๐š๐›๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ง'๐ญ ๐ก๐š๐ฏ๐ž ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ž๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž Show more

#expensive
#light
#absorbs well
#light scent
Daniel.Chin's avatar

Daniel Chin

1 year ago
Review

Full of amazing ingredients; has totally reduced the need for me to cocktail and upset my ph balance.

#works well