Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The Raw Niacinamide 5% Serum versus Skintific 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum .

Last updated on February 02, 2024. Published on March 23, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 13 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain AHA, BHA, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide

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, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, fragrances, parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain oils

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Serum Malaysian Brand Malaysia
Serum Malaysian Brand Malaysia

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 Niacinamide 5% Serum

Shop

Buy 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum

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

AHA
BHA
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating
Good For Oily Skin (4)
Redness Reducing (5)
Reduces Irritation (4)
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores (4)
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots (4)
Scar Healing (3)
Acne Fighting (3)
Brightening (4)

Concerns

Drying
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

AHA (3)
BHA
Niacinamide
Ceramides (3)
Hyaluronic Acid
Peptides

Benefits

Hydrating (4)
Good For Oily Skin (2)
Redness Reducing (7)
Reduces Irritation (6)
Skin Texture (2)
Reduces Large Pores (4)
Anti-Aging (3)
Dark Spots (2)
Scar Healing (4)
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (6)

Concerns

Drying
Irritating (4)
Rosacea (6)
Eczema (2)
Join our community

Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.

Join SkinSort

Ingredients Compared

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

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

Loading ingredients...

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

The Raw Niacinamide 5% Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Skintific 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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

The Raw Niacinamide 5% Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

Skintific 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

3
What it does: Smoothing
Community Rating: Loved

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

The Raw Niacinamide 5% Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

Skintific 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

4
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

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.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

The Raw Niacinamide 5% Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

Skintific 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

5
What it does: Solvent
Community Rating: Liked

Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.

It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Learn more about Propanediol

The Raw Niacinamide 5% Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.

Skintific 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 37.

6
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.

Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.

One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.

Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.

Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.

Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.

Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.

Learn more about Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

The Raw Niacinamide 5% Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.

Skintific 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

7
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

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

The Raw Niacinamide 5% Serum contains this as ingredient number 24.

Skintific 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 30.

8
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying
Community Rating: Mixed

Glyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid, a fatty acid from coconut.

Glyceryl Caprylate is used for its emollient and emulsifier properties.

As an emollient, it helps hydrate your skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier on your skin to trap moisture in, helping to keep your skin soft and smooth.

Glyceryl Caprylate helps keep the ingredients such as oil and water together as an emulsifier.

Learn more about Glyceryl Caprylate

The Raw Niacinamide 5% Serum contains this as ingredient number 25.

Skintific 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 27.

9
What it does: Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.

This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.

Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.

Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.

It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.

In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.

While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.

If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.

Learn more about Salicylic Acid

The Raw Niacinamide 5% Serum contains this as ingredient number 28.

Skintific 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.

10
What it does: Buffering
Community Rating: Loved

Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous AHA with research to back up its benefits. Its main role is to peel the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Glycolic Acid has shown to boost collage production, a protein that helps skin stay firm. Overall, Glycolic Acid helps with improving uneven tone, rough patches of skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage. It also increases skin hydration by playing a role in creating molecules that create hyaluronic acid naturally.

When applying Glycolic Acid, it is normal to feel slight stinging. The pH value and concentration of glycolic acid play a role in the effectiveness of the product.

Recent studies have shown Glycolic Acid may protect the skin against UV damage. However, you should always wear SPF, especially when using exfoliants.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Glycolic Acid

The Raw Niacinamide 5% Serum contains this as ingredient number 29.

Skintific 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 39.

11
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

The Raw Niacinamide 5% Serum contains this as ingredient number 30.

Skintific 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 34.

12
What it does: Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

We don't have a description for Acacia Senegal Gum.

The Raw Niacinamide 5% Serum contains this as ingredient number 33.

Skintific 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

13
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

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.

The Raw Niacinamide 5% Serum contains this as ingredient number 38.

Skintific 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

58% are loved or liked
13% have mixed ratings
16% are disliked or very disliked
13% have no rating yet
44% are loved or liked
21% have mixed ratings
21% are disliked or very disliked
14% have no rating yet

Usage

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

When to use

Loading routine usage...
Loading routine usage...

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

The Raw Niacinamide 5% Serum 38 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 1 rating

Skintific 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum 43 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 2 ratings
laukberanang's avatar

laukberanang

10 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

LOVE!
I'll tell you. I've got zit that day, so I applied this serum. The next day, it left with just the bump. The white yellowish zit? Where? I...

LOVE!
I'll tell you. I've got zit that day, so I applied this serum. The next day, it left with just the bump. The white yellowish zit? Where? I dunno. Its GONE! Run bestie. Go buy it bestie.

*Do not pop your zit okay. Just apply this before you go to sleep.

Ericj89's avatar

Ericj89

3 months ago · Oily Skin
Review

Texture: Lightweight serum. Slightly moisturizing.
Scent: No scent
Performance: Gentle BHA for acne and blackhead.
Pros: Contain ceramide for...

Texture: Lightweight serum. Slightly moisturizing.
Scent: No scent
Performance: Gentle BHA for acne and blackhead.
Pros: Contain ceramide for skin barrier.
Cons: Contain PEG
WRP/WNRP: Maybe WNRP (trying other products with multi-function and lighter texture)

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The Raw Niacinamide 5% Serum.

See 50 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 29 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Skintific 2% Salicylic Acid Anti Acne Serum.

See 29 alternatives
Loading similar comparisons...