Skin science article
PSA SKIN Goals Multi Acids & Probiotics Perfecting Night Serum Versus Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide
PSA SKIN Goals Multi Acids & Probiotics Perfecting Night Serum Versus Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide This smoothing serum is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Gluconolactone to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin. This acn
PSA SKIN Goals Multi Acids & Probiotics Perfecting Night Serum Versus Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide
This smoothing serum is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Gluconolactone to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
This acne serum is formulated around Propolis Extract and Niacinamide to clear breakouts and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Glycerin
Glycolic Acid
Gluconolactone
Propanediol
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Sodium Hydroxide
Tocopheryl Acetate
Pyruvic Acid
Lactobacillus Ferment
Bisabolol
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
Lactic Acid
Salicylic Acid
Niacinamide
Sodium PCA
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Hyaluronic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer-3
Pentapeptide-59
Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane
Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Sclerotium Gum
Maltodextrin
Sodium Gluconate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Dimethyl Sulfone
Ethylhexylglycerin
Potassium Sorbate
Phenethyl Alcohol
Phenoxyethanol
Water, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Gluconolactone, Propanediol, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyruvic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment, Bisabolol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide, Sodium PCA, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer-3, Pentapeptide-59, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sclerotium Gum, Maltodextrin, Sodium Gluconate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dimethyl Sulfone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
Propolis Extract
Dipropylene Glycol
Butylene Glycol
1,2-Hexanediol
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Centella Asiatica Extract
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Lotus Corniculatus Seed Extract
Betaine Salicylate
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Tromethamine
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Caprylyl Glycol
Dextrin
Pentylene Glycol
Octanediol
Tocopherol
Xanthan Gum
Carbomer
Propolis Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Water, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Lotus Corniculatus Seed Extract, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Betaine Salicylate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dextrin, Pentylene Glycol, Octanediol, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer
Reviews
Be the first to review
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil comes from the Tamanu tree. This tree grows in tropical regions of Asia and Polynesian countries such as Fiji.
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil contains many fatty acids such as linoleic, oleic, stearic, and palmitic acid. These properties help your skin stay hydrated.
As an antioxidant, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil may also slow down the signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight unstable free-radical molecules.
These molecules may damage your skin cells and speed up aging. By helping to stabilize these molecules, antioxidants may help slow the signs of aging.
A study from 2015 found Tamanu oil to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Another study from 2009 found Tamanu Oil to help absorb UV rays. However, this should not replace your sunscreen.
Due to the fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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.
Glycerin (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.
Niacinamide 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.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!