
Highlights
WHAT IS IT?
Face serum with 10% Niacinamide and 1% Zinc PCA
FEATURES
Fades acne marks, brightens & evens skin tone, controls oil production, dermatologically approved, non-toxic, fragrance-free
BEST FOR
oily
CHECKS
Fragrance, Toxicity
Who Is It For?
All Genders No Specific Age Range MentionedWhat Does It Help With?
Acne Marks Dark Spots Uneven Skin Tone Oily Skin ControlBudget
Affordable (under $30)How To Use
Which routine should it be used in?
Instructions:
Key Information
What Pilgrim Says
Product Description:
10% Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) combined with 1% Zinc PCA work to fade acne marks and dark spots. Brightens and evens skin tone with Korean White Lotus. Oil control with Zinc PCA and Salicylic Acid. Dermatologically approved, non-toxic, and fragrance-free.
About the Brand:
Ingredients Overview
Ingredients List
Purified Water, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Gluconolactone, Salicylic Acid, Zinc PCA, Nelumbo Nucifera (White Lotus) Flower Extract, Torreya Nucifera (Yugdugu) Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Betaine, Allantoin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate-20, Tocopheryl Acetate
Key Ingredients
10%-Niacinamide,1%-Zinc-PCA,Korean-White-Lotus,Salicylic-Acid
Ingredients Details
Allantoin
Common Name(s): 5-ureidohydantoin,glyoxyldiureide,aluminum dihydroxy allantoinate
CAS Number: 97-59-6
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Soothes irritation, accelerates wound healing, promotes skin cell renewal, and provides mild keratolytic exfoliation.
Why It's Used: Gold standard multi-function soothing active โ one of the most widely used cosmetic ingredients across all product types for its exceptional tolerability and clinically proven multi-action skin conditioning.
How It Works: Promotes keratinocyte proliferation and fibroblast migration for wound healing. mild keratolytic activity by disrupting corneocyte binding. anti-irritant via direct protein binding and anti-inflammatory cytokine reduction. humectant activity via hydroxyl groups.
Typically Found In: Post-procedure products,sensitive skin formulas,wound care,anti-acne treatments,baby products
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ soothing / anti-inflammatory
Secondary Functions: Wound healing,keratolytic,anti-irritant
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ2%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ synthetic or comfrey-derived
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Plant-derived extract or synthetic.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Exceptionally well-tolerated; suitable for all skin types including baby and compromised skin.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes โ particularly recommended for sensitive skin
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Ceramides,panthenol,allantoin,hyaluronic acid,centella asiatica
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Allantoin's keratinocyte proliferation stimulation occurs via receptor-mediated signaling (possibly machr activation) rather than non-specific irritation-driven proliferation, making it a true wound-healing stimulant rather than a pro-inflammatory proliferative signal.
Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment,araรบjo et al. allantoin review
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Betaine
Common Name(s): Trimethylglycine,tmg,natural betaine
CAS Number: 107-43-7
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides osmoprotective humectant conditioning with anti-irritant and mild foam-boosting activity.
Why It's Used: Natural-origin multifunctional osmolyte from sugar beet providing hydration, anti-irritancy, and conditioning in virtually every cosmetic category.
How It Works: Quaternary ammonium betaine provides zwitterionic character for water binding via ionic hydration. osmoprotective function at 100โ500mm as compatible solute protecting cells from osmotic stress. reduces surfactant irritation by competing with sls for protein binding sites. mild foam enhancement.
Typically Found In: Virtually all categories โ moisturisers, shampoos, cleansers
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient โ humectant
Secondary Functions: Tewl reduction,skin plumping
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.5%โ10%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ from beta vulgaris (sugar beet) molasses
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Synthetic or naturally derived. excellent aqueous solubility.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; suitable for all skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Ceramides,emollients,occlusives,glycerin,hyaluronic acid
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Betaine's anti-irritant mechanism for surfactant systems involves competitive protein protection: betaine at high concentrations preferentially interacts with skin proteins, occupying binding sites that would otherwise be occupied by surfactant molecules causing protein denaturation. this competition reduces available protein binding for irritating surfactants, explaining betaine's well-documented ability to reduce sls irritation when co-formulated.
Last Verified: Cosing database,craig betaine osmoprotective review,cir safety assessment
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Butylene Glycol
Common Name(s): 1,3-butanediol,bg,1,3-butylene glycol
CAS Number: 107-88-0
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides humectant hydration and active ingredient solubilization with excellent skin feel.
Why It's Used: Preferred glycol humectant in premium and k-beauty formulations for superior skin feel vs propylene glycol with equivalent functionality.
How It Works: Two hydroxyl groups at 1,3-positions provide water binding and solvent activity. better tolerated than propylene glycol with minimal sensitization risk. 4-carbon backbone provides slightly greater hydrophobic character enabling dissolution of less polar actives vs pg.
Typically Found In: Toners,essences,serums,k-beauty formulas
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient โ glycol humectant
Secondary Functions: Tewl reduction,skin plumping
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 1%โ10%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ synthetic
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Synthetic or naturally derived. excellent aqueous solubility.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; suitable for all skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Ceramides,emollients,occlusives,glycerin,hyaluronic acid
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
K-beauty's preference for butylene glycol over propylene glycol is driven by two factors: bg's superior skin feel (less tacky than pg's higher viscosity) and its lower sensitization potential (1,3-bg has better spatial distribution of hydroxyl groups that reduces protein interaction vs pg's 1,2-position oh groups).
Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Ethylhexylglycerin
Common Name(s): Octylglycerin,2-ethylhexyl glycerol ether,sensiva sc 10
CAS Number: 70445-33-9
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides antimicrobial skin conditioning with deodorant activity and preservation system enhancement.
Why It's Used: Multifunctional clean beauty preservation active โ ethylhexylglycerin provides antimicrobial, deodorant, and skin conditioning in a single ingredient accepted in most natural cosmetic certification schemes.
How It Works: Glycerol ether provides antimicrobial via bacterial membrane phospholipid disruption. deodorant activity via reduction of underarm lipase enzyme activity (similar mechanism to triethyl citrate). skin conditioning from glycerol humectant component. synergistic with phenoxyethanol and diols.
Typically Found In: Natural preservation systems,deodorants,skin conditioning products
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient โ antimicrobial glycerol ether
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ0.5%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ synthetic
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1โ2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Ethylhexylglycerin's deodorant mechanism is pharmacologically identical to triethyl citrate: both inhibit skin surface microbial lipase enzymes that convert odourless triglycerides to odorous free fatty acids. the glycerol ether structure of ethylhexylglycerin, combined with the 2-ethylhexyl chain, provides lipase inhibition similar to ester-based lipase inhibitors from a different chemical class.
Last Verified: Cosing database,schรผlke sensiva sc 10 technical data,cir safety assessment
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12