GOOD MOLECULES | NIACINAMIDE TONER
This review was originally part of my blog article titled, My Fall Empties 2020: Good Molecules Niacinamide Toner, Banila Clean It Zero, Skin Aqua Uv Moisture Milk And More. You can catch the full piece here.
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You may recall that in my blog article on Bakuchiol a few months ago, I made light of the fact that the Indeed Labs Bakuchiol Reface Pads was the weirdest of the five Bakuchiol products I’d tested.
It wasn’t simply that I found it odd to put the product in a pad form — although many people mentioned they liked the idea because it made the product easy to travel with.
What I thought was truly weird about the product was that the second ingredient was Niacinamide. I love Niacinamide; I just didn’t get why the pads contained so much of it. It should be in the name!
So, it’s timely that I find a new brightening toner that embraces its “niacinamideness”!
Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Tonercontains a high level of Vitamin B3, likely 10%.
Niacinamide is a fantastic active with many pro-skin health benefits, including the ability to improve the look of enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, fine lines, dullness — and to strengthen the skin barrier.
There’s so much more going on with Niacinamide Brightening Toner formula that I also love. Like Cocoa Seed Extract, Licorice Root Extract and fermented actives. The real star here is the 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid — a derivative of pure Vitamin C that helps increase the vitamin’s stability and enhances skin penetration for greater efficacy.
What is Niacinamide and What Does Niacinamide Do for the Skin?
I found a comprehensive article on the form of Vitamin B3 written by the skin experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team, titled simply, How Niacinamide Helps Skin. Here’s what I find most insightful
How Niacinamide Helps Skin
Niacinamide is a skin care ingredient worthy of your attention and your skin will love you for using it. Among a handful of other amazing skin care ingredients such as retinol and vitamin C, niacinamide is a standout because of its versatility for almost any skin care concern and skin type.
As many of you know about us, but for those who don’t, the conclusions we make about any ingredient are always based on what the published research has shown to be true—and the research about niacinamide unanimously demonstrates how special it is. New research keeps showing it’s one of the most exciting skin care ingredients around.
What is Niacinamide?
Also known as vitamin B3 and nicotinamide, niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin that works with the natural substances in your skin to help visibly minimize enlarged pores, tighten lax pores, improve uneven skin tone, soften fine lines and wrinkles, diminish dullness, and strengthen a weakened surface.
Niacinamide also reduces the impact of environmental damage because of its ability to improve skin’s barrier (its first line of defense), plus it also plays a role in helping skin to repair signs of past damage. Left unchecked, this type of daily assault makes skin appear older, dull, and less radiant.
What’s remarkable is that 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is relatively expensive. Yet K-Beauty sensation Good Molecules managed to pull all this goodness together for just $14. I don’t get it. But that may be what I love most: it’s a surprisingly good formula for such a low cost. This is the model for democratically priced skincare!
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Tonerfor $14 here.
The Ingredient List of the Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner:
The Ingredient List of the Maysama Green Rooibos Pressed Serum:
The Ingredient List of The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner:
The Ingredient List of The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG:
The Ingredient List of the Biophile Bio-Shroom Rejuvenating Serum:
The Ingredient List of the Banila Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm:
The Ingredient List of the Skin Aqua Super Moisture Milk SPF 50 / PA ++++ :
Price: £10.77 / $14 USD
Where to Buy: Available on The Good Molecules Website HERE
Made in: The USA
Volume: 120ml
Vegan/Alcohol-Free/Cruelty Free
What is it?: A toner – to help promote a brighter and more even skin tone. This is also supposed to help reduce the visibility of pores.
Good for: Those with large pores and pigmented skin caused by acne. Also good for dry and dehydrated skins as I think this is hydrating!
Packaging: This is a glass bottle with a plastic screw top. It also has a little hole so you don’t over apply your product. I would say that still, a lot of product can end up coming out of this hole.
Directions: ‘Dispense onto a cotton pad and gently sweep over freshly cleansed skin. Can also be dispensed into palms and patted into skin until fully absorbed. Suitable for daily use.’
How I use it: I use this both to tone and to swipe off dirt after cleansing (I apply this to a cotton pad). It provides initial hydration to the skin AND it’s nice because it also is providing me with skin-beneficial ingredients such as Niacinamide, Arbutin and Vitamin C – so they can get to work on the skin before I add HA serums or peptide serums.
Texture: [see video below] – this is the same sort of texture as the Klairs supple preparation toner BUT this isn’t as sticky, and doesn’t ball up under serums! I really like it – it feels just thick enough to not feel like it just evaporates off your skin after applying.
I also have a video showing live swatches and talking about the product
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide (helps uneven skin toner, visible pores and helps the skin’s barrier function). Arbutin (helps with hyper pigmentation), Liquorice root extract (helps soothe inflammation and reduce an over-production of melanin). A stable form of vitamin C (so this is a vitamin-C derivative and isn’t pure L-ascorbic acid) – MAY help with collagen production.
NOTE: THE % IS NOT DISCLOSED OF NIACNIAMIDE, ARBUTIN OR Vitamin C Derivative! . So I have no idea how much of these key ingredients are in the product. But I would imagine that it’s quite low (think of the Pixi Retinol or Vitamin C tonic) as this can be used daily.
UPDATE: 0.1% of 3-O-E (Vitamin C Derivative) Is used which means this does very little in terms of brightening and mainly would be used as a preservative to keep the product lasting longer).
Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Betaine,
Arbutin, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root
Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate,
Carbomer, Tromethamine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Dextrin
FULL INGREDIENT BREAKDOWN IS ON INCIDECODER HERE
Fragrance?: None! A big reason why I love this, other than its light-ish texture.
Good under makeup?: Yes this has been fine!
How long have I been using this?: I used it to completion, so 2 months.
The Effect?: After 2 months, I genuinely think that this has improved my skin texture and has helped brighten my skin! My sister commented that my pores looked nice, and this is the only product I’ve been using with Niacinamide/or that is supposed to help with pores.
What I like:
- This has genuinely improved the texture of my skin
- I believe this has also helped brighten my skin
- Hydrates my skin
- Good under makeup
- No fragrance
- a big ml!
- Easy to use packaging
- Didn’t cause sensitivity/irritation
What I don’t like:
- Can get a bit messy as this is slightly thicker/gloopy
- Sometimes you can over-apply, so waste the product
- DOES NOT TELL YOU THE % Concentration of the key ingredients! – (This has now been updated and they do break down their %)
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Overall Rating and Conclusion: 4.2 /5 – A really nifty toner. I genuinely think that it improved the texture and look of my skin. I really think sensitive skins could use this and anyone with PIH. I’m just not happy that the % of the key ingredients are not included.
Would I purchase?: Absolutely I would. The only reason why I’m not now is because I also have the Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum – so I’m hoping that that does the same job as this toner and if not, better – because I’m guessing that it has a higher % of Niacinamide compared to this (alas there is no vitamin C in that serum or Arbutin). I think for those of you who are scared of using acids but are worried about large pores – this could be a nice alternative!
Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.
Published by My skincare regime
Hi! I'm Hannah - a Skincare Enthusiast posting skincare reviews! I post a lot about skincare on my instagram: @myskincareregime View all posts by My skincare regime
Published 22nd Jan 202012th Jan 2022