Versus

Pyunkang Yul Black Tea Boosting Serum Versus Numbuzin No.9 Secret Firming Serum

Serum
Serum
Korean Brand South Korea
Korean Brand South Korea

Updated on August 20, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 15 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and peptides

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, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain oils and silicones

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

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Black Tea Boosting Serum

Water

Skin Conditioning

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Glycereth-26

Humectant
0 / 0

Niacinamide

Smoothing
Niacinamide IconGood for Oily Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Emulsion Stabilising

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Dicaprylyl Ether

Emollient

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Skin Conditioning

Hydroxyacetophenone

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Tromethamine

Buffering

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Antimicrobial
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Dipropylene Glycol

Masking

Maltodextrin

Absorbent

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Polysilicone-15

UV Filter

Caramel

Cosmetic Colorant

Adenosine

Skin Conditioning
Good for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Polyglyceryl-10 Dilaurate

Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Eclipta Prostrata Extract

Skin Conditioning

Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Disodium EDTA

Silica

Abrasive
Exfoliant IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Methylpropanediol

Solvent

Panthenol

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking

Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil

Emollient
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Panax Ginseng Berry Extract

Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexyl Palmitate

Emollient
2-3 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate

Emollient

Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract

Skin Conditioning

Coptis Japonica Extract

Antimicrobial

Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract

Astringent

Scrophularia Buergeriana Extract

Skin Conditioning

Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate

Skin Conditioning

Cholesterol

Emollient
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Piper Methysticum Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Brassica Campestris Sterols

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Emulsifying

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Humectant
Peptide IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Fructose

Humectant

Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate

Humectant

Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Centella Asiatica Extract

Cleansing
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Glucose

Humectant

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Emulsifying

Ceramide NP

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Beta-Glucan

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Asiatic Acid

Skin Conditioning

Asiaticoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Ceramide Ns

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Madecassic Acid

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Madecassoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Ceramide EOP

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Maltodextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysilicone-15, Caramel, Adenosine, Polyglyceryl-10 Dilaurate, Xanthan Gum, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Silica, Methylpropanediol, Panthenol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Coptis Japonica Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Scrophularia Buergeriana Extract, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Cholesterol, Piper Methysticum Root Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Fructose, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glucose, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ceramide Ns, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Ceramide EOP

No.9 Secret Firming 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
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.

Smoothing

Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.

It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.

Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.

The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.

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.

Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.

Learn more about Niacinamide
Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

This ingredient is a silicone used to improve the texture of products and absorb oil. It does not get absorbed into the skin.

Like other silicones, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer helps condition the skin by creating a barrier. In this sense, it can act as an emollient and trap moisture in.

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
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.

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
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

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA
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

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 is a peptide. A common name for this peptide is Argireline.

Argireline has a similar function to botox; it prevents muscle movement and contractions slightly. By preventing muscles from moving, argireline also prohibits the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. However, research is lacking in proving this ingredient to be as effective as botox.

On the other hand, argireline tells our body to create more collagen. Collagen is a protein that makes connective tissue. Boosting collagen production leads to a healthier skin barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier means having firm and hydrated skin.

Read more about other common types of peptides here:

Learn more about Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is a form of hyaluronic acid. It is created by the hydrolysis of hyaluronic acid with a high molecular weight. Once created, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid has a low molecular weight.

Low molecular weight HA has been shown to hydrate and increase elasticity of the skin. Increasing elasticity is also associated with reduction of wrinkle depth.

One study found topical low molecular weight hyaluronic acid may be considered for the treatment of rosacea in the adult population. However, we always recommend speaking with a professional about your skin concerns.

Hyaluronic acids are a humectant. This means they draw moisture from the air. Hyaluronic acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.

Read more about other common forms of hyaluronic acid:

Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

This form of hyaluronic acid is produced through fermentation.

According to a manufacturer, it has a positive charge by ionic binding to help moisturize and give hair a smooth feel. This is why you'll find this ingredient in shampoos and body washes.

When to use

22 Routines
45% use in am
55% use in pm
91% use every day
14 Routines
21% use in am
79% use in pm
79% use every day