COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum with Acetyl Glucosamine + Zinc PCA
by COSRX · skin_care
Editor's Take
A proper treatment serum for oily, blemish-prone skin: 15% niacinamide leads the list, with Zinc PCA giving the oil-control pitch real teeth.
Four-pillar formula scores
- Performance: 8.8 / 10
- Innovative Ingredients: 7.5 / 10
- Clean Standards: 10.0 / 10
- Formula Sustainability: 9.1 / 10
The Verdict
COSRX promises breakout care, oil control, refined-looking pores, fewer post-acne marks, and a clearer, smoother, more even complexion for oily and blemish-prone skin. The 15% niacinamide is listed third, with Acetyl Glucosamine and Zinc PCA following at active levels, a focused trio that credibly targets excess sebum, uneven tone, and the look of post-acne marks. The supplied list supports a lightweight, non-fragranced serum that layers easily, but it does not substantiate comprehensive care for every stage of acne as an acne treatment. Formula sustainability is thoughtfully handled through biodegradable xanthan gum and pullulan, though the glycol delivery solvents have undisclosed feedstocks. A credible pick for an oil-control and tone-focused serum, not a substitute for regulated acne treatment.
Is COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum with Acetyl Glucosamine + Zinc PCA clean?
DARE scores COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum with Acetyl Glucosamine + Zinc PCA by COSRX 10.0 / 10 on Clean Standards, the human-health pillar of the Formulation Architecture Model™. That reading comes from the published INCI list read as a system — preservative, fragrance and surfactant choices in context — not from flagging single ingredients in isolation.
What are the key ingredients in COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum with Acetyl Glucosamine + Zinc PCA?
The formula leads with Water, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Glucosamine, 2-hexanediol. DARE reads the full INCI list below in order, so position and pairing shape how each ingredient contributes under Performance and Innovative Ingredients.
How does DARE score COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum with Acetyl Glucosamine + Zinc PCA?
Under the Formulation Architecture Model™, COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum with Acetyl Glucosamine + Zinc PCA by COSRX scores Performance 8.8 / 10, Clean Standards 10.0 / 10, Innovative Ingredients 7.5 / 10, and Formula Sustainability 9.1 / 10. Each pillar is scored from the finished formula rather than from isolated ingredient flags.
Full INCI list
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide(15%), Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Glucosamine, 1,2-hexanediol, Zinc Pca, Trehalose, Xanthan Gum, Pullulan, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Tocopherol.
Last updated October 8, 2026