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Shop COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum
Serum
COSRX

The Niacinamide 15 Serum

~$17.5· 20ml
Visible poresDark spotsUneven texture

What it's good for

Key actives from our research database. Click any to read the full evidence dossier.

  • NiacinamideStrong evidenceFull dossier ↗

    A multitasker that calms redness, evens out skin tone, and helps oily skin balance out. One of the safest do-a-little-of-everything ingredients.

    Good for: Brightening, Barrier repair, Anti-inflammatory

  • Sodium PCAAnecdotal evidenceFull dossier ↗

    Replenishes one of the actual humectant molecules your own skin makes. Levels drop in eczema and with age, so topping it up genuinely helps dry, dehydrated, or atopic-prone skin feel less tight.

    Good for: Hydrating, Barrier repair

Evidence behind the ingredients

Real citations from our research database, one per tracked active in this product. Click any ingredient name to read its full evidence dossier.

NiacinamideStrong evidence10 citations

A multitasker that calms redness, evens out skin tone, and helps oily skin balance out. One of the safest do-a-little-of-everything ingredients.

Moro F et al., Skin Cancer Prevention and Antiaging: Role of Nicotinamide, International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2026

2026Mechanism onlyPMID:42278444View source ↗

Passeron T et al., An Investigator-Blinded, Randomized Trial of a Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen Containing Sclareolide and Niacinamide, Dermatology and Therapy (Heidelberg) 2026

2026Positive (efficacy)PMID:41240206View source ↗

Vergilio MM et al., Topical Formulation with Niacinamide Combined with 5 MHz Ultrasound for Improving Skin Ageing, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2025

2025Positive (efficacy)PMID:39171587View source ↗
Sodium PCAAnecdotal evidence4 citations

Replenishes one of the actual humectant molecules your own skin makes. Levels drop in eczema and with age, so topping it up genuinely helps dry, dehydrated, or atopic-prone skin feel less tight.

Novel design of pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid and sodium dilauramidoglutamide lysine complex for targeted drug delivery to human stratum corneum, International Journal of Pharmaceutics 2025

2025Mechanism onlyPMID:40187708View source ↗

Baldwin H, Del Rosso J, Going Beyond Ceramides in Moisturizers: The Role of Natural Moisturizing Factors, Journal of Drugs in Dermatology 2024 — review establishing PCA (pyrrolidone carboxylic acid) as a core skin natural moisturizing factor alongside amino acids, urea, lactate, and electrolytes; essential to barrier function and xerosis treatment

2024Mechanism onlyPMID:38834224View source ↗

Li L et al., Association Between Skin Acid Mantle, Natural Moisturizing Factors, and Antibacterial Activity Against S. aureus in the Stratum Corneum, Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology 2023 — PCA and urocanic acid as NMF components contribute to skin antibacterial defense; 1-unit pH drop = 68.1% S. aureus cell death

2023Mechanism onlyPMID:37378303View source ↗

Sources: 10 clinical journals and regulatory databases across the US, EU, Korea, Japan, and China. Every entry points to a specific document. See methodology for the full list and what each outcome label means.

Full ingredient list

Everything on the package label, not just the tracked actives above.

Fragrance freeDrying alcohol freeSulfates freeParabens freeSilicones free
+Show all 15 ingredients

Listed in the order printed on the package. By regulation, ingredients at 1% or higher are listed in descending order by concentration, so the first entry is the largest part of the formula.

  1. Water
  2. Pentylene Glycol
  3. Niacinamide (15%)
  4. Butylene Glycol
  5. Acetyl Glucosamine
  6. 1,2-Hexanediol
  7. Zinc Pca
  8. Trehalose
  9. Xanthan Gum
  10. Pullulan
  11. Allantoin
  12. Ethylhexylglycerin
  13. Sodium Phytate
  14. Citric Acid
  15. Tocopherol

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Not medical advice. GlowPal is educational. Patch-test new products and talk to a qualified healthcare professional before changing your routine, especially if you're pregnant, nursing, or have a diagnosed skin condition. See our terms.