Versus

iUNIK Beta Glucan Power Moisture Serum Versus Frankly Closer Pore Reducing Serum

Serum
Serum
Korean Brand South Korea
Korean Brand South Korea

Updated on April 23, 2025

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan and reef safe serums. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Suited For

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

Free From

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

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Closer Pore Reducing Serum

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. 

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, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Skin Conditioning

Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.

Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.

Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.

In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.

Learn more about Adenosine
Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.

A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.

Buffering, Masking

Tromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.

As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.

Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.

Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.

1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-

Learn more about Tromethamine

When to use

836 Routines
46% use in am
54% use in pm
92% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
53 Routines
43% use in am
57% use in pm
92% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

iUNIK Beta Glucan Power Moisture Serum 10 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 20 ratings
No Scent (14) Hydrating (13) Works Well (10)
nja's avatar

nja

8 months ago
Review

I got a sample of this and saw that it was FA safe and had no comedogenic or irritating ingredients so I tried it out. Only used it 4 times, but it was pretty obvious what a powerful humectant beta-glucan is. Just pure hydration and calm. Definitely buying the full size if I need the extra hydration. In this regard, it beats the skin1004 madagascar centella ampoule! (Still love that for beneficial Show more

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#no scent
amethysta's avatar

amethysta

2 years ago
Review

Very hydrating, my must have product
Wow. I regret not buying this earlier. It's a somewhat thick serum that's very moisturizing and absorbs nicely into the skin,depending how much you use. I go heavy on this and put a full dropper on my face and it takes a while but it does sink in.

It has helped with my rosacea flareups and dry patches.

It's niacinamide free so it's a great hydrating Show more

Frankly Closer Pore Reducing Serum 32 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 2 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Great Value (1) Hydrating (1)
AungYeMinn's avatar

AungYeMinn

10 months ago
Review

I didn't trust its claims first but I did believe what's in it. So I went for it and the results were noticeable. Now it has become a staple in my routine.

#great value
#hydrating
#absorbs well
emmalehnhoff's avatar

Emma Lehnhoff

15 days ago
Review

Didn't try it, but in case anyone is else is looking for a product with peptides and also wonders how high the percentage is: I asked the customer service and they said the serum contains only 0,1% peptides in general. As far as I know that's far beyond the minimal effective dosis used in clinical studies so it's probably too little to actually achieve an effect (apart from moisturizing bc of the Show more