Some By Mi Yuja Niacin Anti Blemish Serum Versus Some By Mi AHA, BHA, PHA 30 Days Miracle Serum Light
This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
This acne serum is formulated around Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water and Centella Asiatica Extract to clear breakouts and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract 83%
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide 10%
SmoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Peel Oil
AstringentMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantMorus Alba Fruit Extract
AntioxidantGinkgo Biloba Nut Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
CleansingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningInositol
HumectantThiamine Hcl
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Limonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitrus Junos Fruit Extract 83%, Niacinamide 10%, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Bisabolol, Carbomer, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Citrus Junos Peel Oil, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Water, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Tocopherol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Panthenol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Biotin, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Cyanocobalamin, Linoleic Acid, Riboflavin, Beta-Carotene, Inositol, Thiamine Hcl, Disodium EDTA, Limonene, Linalool
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water 73%
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract 15%
CleansingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentPimpinella Anisum Fruit Extract
MaskingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingSalicylic Acid
MaskingTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingLactobionic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingC12-13 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAlgin
MaskingWater
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Glycol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRaspberry Ketone
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Mentha Piperita Oil
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water 73%, Centella Asiatica Extract 15%, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Pimpinella Anisum Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Allantoin, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Arginine, Salicylic Acid, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Lactobionic Acid, Citric Acid, C12-13 Pareth-9, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Algin, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Benzyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Raspberry Ketone, Disodium EDTA, Mentha Piperita Oil
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that your body already makes in every cell. In skincare, it acts mainly as a skin conditioning and anti-aging agent.
The way it works is fairly well mapped out:
Your skin has cells called fibroblasts that build collagen (the stuff that keeps skin firm and smooth). Adenosine basically flips a switch on these cells that tells them to get to work making more collagen and other proteins. These cells slow down on their own as skin ages, so Adenosine helps give them a little nudge to keep going.
The clinical backing is pretty solid too.
A blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 126 women aged 45-65 tested a 0.1% cream twice daily and found real improvements in crow's feet and frown lines using a precise 3D skin-mapping technique; these changes showed up by week 3 and held at 2 months.
A later study using Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches reported gains in wrinkle depth, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration.
On concentrations, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has set 0.04% as the approved functional anti-wrinkle level. You'll typically see this ingredient used somewhere in the 0.04-0.1% range since it works at low doses.
This ingredient has been found safe for cosmetics with the data showing no irritation or sensitization.
Overall, this is a great ingredient for any anti-aging routine and has no photosensitizing effect, so it suits both AM and PM use.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract is from the Neem tree. Neem trees originate from India.
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract contains antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
The flowers of this tree are lilac colored.
Learn more about Melia Azadirachta Flower ExtractThis ingredient is also known as neem leaf extract. It contains natural compounds like nimbidin, quercetin, and other polyphenols that give it antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activity.
Lab studies have shown neem leaf extract can inhibit acne-related bacteria and help calm skin. Animal studies on wound gels using 1-3% neem leaf extract found it sped up healing without causing irritation.
A wound-healing study testing gels with the extract at 1%, 2%, and 3% concentrations and found none of them irritated the skin.
Most commercial products also use it in a similar low range (typically under 5%).
Allergy-wise, there are some case reports on neem oil causing allergic contact dermatitis so people with plant/botanical sensitivities may want to patch test first.
Learn more about Melia Azadirachta Leaf ExtractNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
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.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan 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