COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum
Works for
Anti-agingNiacinamide, Acetyl glucosamine + 2 moreWorks well
“Other ingredients include N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) to gently exfoliate skin and fade hyperpigmentation, zinc PCA to balance skin’s oil-water levels and allantoin to promote collagen production.”
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains acetyl glucosamine, niacinamide.
Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.
MoisturizingNiacinamide, Acetyl glucosamine + 6 moreWorks well
“Formulated with a pure and high concentration of niacinamide to help fade the look for dark spots and improves skin texture, zinc 1% to treat acne, breakouts and reduce sebum secretion, allantoin .1% to moisturize and soothe irritated skin, and acetylglucosamine 2% to exfoliate, smooth skin and refine texture.”
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": trehalose, zinc pca.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: acetyl glucosamine, niacinamide
Anti-blemishNiacinamide, Zinc pca + 1 moreWorks well
“Formulated with a pure and high concentration of niacinamide to help fade the look for dark spots and improves skin texture, zinc 1% to treat acne, breakouts and reduce sebum secretion, allantoin .1% to moisturize and soothe irritated skin, and acetylglucosamine 2% to exfoliate, smooth skin and refine texture.”
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: niacinamide. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: zinc pca
Evens skin toneNiacinamide, Acetyl glucosamineWorks well
“Formulated with a pure and high concentration of niacinamide to help fade the look for dark spots and improves skin texture, zinc 1% to treat acne, breakouts and reduce sebum secretion, allantoin .1% to moisturize and soothe irritated skin, and acetylglucosamine 2% to exfoliate, smooth skin and refine texture.”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: acetyl glucosamine, niacinamide
Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.
ExfoliationAcetyl glucosamine, AllantoinNot delivered
“Formulated with a pure and high concentration of niacinamide to help fade the look for dark spots and improves skin texture, zinc 1% to treat acne, breakouts and reduce sebum secretion, allantoin .1% to moisturize and soothe irritated skin, and acetylglucosamine 2% to exfoliate, smooth skin and refine texture.”
This product might help exfoliate the skin with acetyl glucosamine, but This ingredient is not the most effective.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy5 flagged ingredientsLow risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
1 of 1 community members would buy it again.
Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Pentylene glycol~5.9–8.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
More about Pentylene glycolNiacinamide15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
More about NiacinamideButylene glycol~3.2–4.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolAcetyl glucosamine~2.6–3.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An effective moisturizing ingredient that also has been shown to be effective in evening out the skin tone and reducing hyperpigmentation. It can help somewhat reduce wrinkles in skin
More about Acetyl glucosamine1,2-hexanediol~0.15–0.65%
Zinc pca~1.7–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A compound that combines zinc with a hydrating ingredient PCA. Might to be helpful against acne and clogged pores. Can help calm down inflammation in skin. Could be helpful in reducing the formation of free radicals in skin. Might help to reduce fine lines in wrinkles, but solid evidence is missing
More about Zinc pcaTrehalose~1–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A sugar that attracts water to the upper layer of the skin
More about TrehaloseXanthan gum~0.8–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumPullulan~0.45–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
Creates a thin drying film on the skin resulting in a short-term tightening effect
More about PullulanAllantoin~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
More about AllantoinEthylhexylglycerin~0.1–0.45%
Sodium phytate~0.05–0.3%
Citric acid~0.05–0.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
More about Citric acidTocopherol~0.05–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about TocopherolIngredient list view
Water, Pentylene glycol, Niacinamide, Butylene glycol, Acetyl glucosamine, 1,2-hexanediol, Zinc pca, Trehalose, Xanthan gum, Pullulan, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium phytate, Citric acid, Tocopherol
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| COSRXThe Niacinamide 15 SerumYOUR PRODUCT | PERCENTPLUSnag msm solution serum | Paula's choice10% Niacinamide Booster | Medik8Clarity Peptides | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 94% | 93% | 92% |
| Price | $20.00 | — | $49.47+$29.47 | $59.88+$39.88 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 3 of 6 | 3 of 6 | 3 of 6 |
| Key difference | — | Panthenol | Ascorbyl Glucoside | Carnosine |
| Irritancy | Low | Low | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Be Minimalist Niacinamide 10% Face Serum for Acne, Blemishes & Oil ControlAwake Beauty Glow Pill Super Serum
Product summary
"COSRX - The Niacinamide 15 Serum" is effective for: Anti-blemish, Moisturizing, Anti-aging and Evens skin tone
Ingredient callouts
- Humectants (trehalose 1.00% - 1.50%, zinc pca 1.70% - 2.50% and acetyl glucosamine 2.60% - 3.80%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
What our users say
Based on 1 review 100% recommend this product- When it comes to comedogenicity, the reviewer found that it does not clog pores.
About the brand
According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "COSRX" is cruelty free, but its parent company is not.
Price
The product retails from 13.99$ up to 25.00$ in the United States, for 28.66A$ in Australia and from 14.36£ up to 28.00£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 13 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4Glucosamine: an ingredient with skin and other benefitsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5
- 6Incorporation of D-(^H)glucosamine into normal and psoriatic epidermal glycoconjugatesonlinelibrary.wiley.com
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