1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 30–80% of the formula.
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Dr.Althea
15% Niacinamide Purity Serum
face serum
Dr.Althea
face serum
Added Last edited
Fit by skin type
General, ingredient-based — not your personalized match.
See how this fits your skin
Take the skin test and I'll show you how suitable this product is for you.
Take the skin testDr. Althea’s 15% Niacinamide Purity Serum is a high-performance, lightweight treatment formulated with a potent 15% concentration of niacinamide to improve skin tone, minimize enlarged pores, and refine texture. Enhanced with Zinc PCA for oil regulation and the MELACUT complex, a blend of portulaca, grape seed, Saururus chinensis, and rice ferment filtrate, for soothing and texture improvement, this vegan, EWG Green–rated formula delivers brightening, sebum control, and clarity without stickiness.
15% Niacinamide Purity Serum is a watery-light serum from Dr.Althea. The formula is built mainly around hydration. The ingredient list runs to 21 ingredients, each broken down in full below.
By its ingredient list the formula reads as very light — essentially a water-and-humectant base with little emollient weight. With almost no emollient load it should absorb quickly and finish close to matte. Hydration is handled by Butylene Glycol, Glycerin and Trehalose, humectants that pull water into the upper layers of skin rather than sealing it there.
Hydration: High. Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin, and here that comes from Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Trehalose and Ethylhexylglycerin.
Soothing: Moderate. Ingredients aimed at visible redness and reactivity, and here that comes from Niacinamide, Portulaca Oleracea Extract and Tocopherol.
Oil control: Moderate. Ingredients that moderate sebum or absorb shine, and here that comes from Niacinamide and Zinc PCA.
Brightening: Moderate. Ingredients that act on uneven tone and post-inflammatory marks, and here that comes from Niacinamide and Tocopherol.
On richness alone it suits Combination (oily) and Oily skin best, and is the least natural fit for Dry and Combination (dry) skin. Nothing in the list is flagged as a common irritant, which is a reasonable starting point for reactive skin — though a patch test is still the only way to know.
The formula contributes little or nothing on antioxidant protection, cell renewal and firmness signalling. That is not a fault — most products are not meant to do everything — but if one of those is your priority, this is not the product that will address it.
Reading the full list, the formula is no drying alcohol, paraben-free, silicone-free, microplastic-free, sulfate-free and dye-free. Those claims come from the ingredient list itself, not from the packaging. It does contain fragrance and essential oils, worth knowing if your skin reacts to any of them.
It can be used morning and evening. In a routine it goes after toner, before moisturiser. Apply to clean, dry skin and give it a minute to absorb before the next layer. Introduce one new treatment at a time so you can identify what is working.
This summary is generated from the product's ingredient list. It is not a review, it is not the brand's own marketing claims, and it does not replace advice from a dermatologist.
Drawn purely from the ingredient list
Scored on how rich or light the formula reads from its INCI order.
No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.
Based on the curated benefits documented for this product's ingredients.
Attracts and locks in moisture to keep skin plump and dewy
Boosts collagen and cell turnover to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
Calms redness, irritation, and inflammation for sensitive skin
Brightens and balances complexion for a more uniform appearance
Tightens and refines the look of enlarged pores
None of the ingredients in this formula are associated with these benefits. This is not unusual, as most products are designed to target a limited number of concerns.
The actives, UV filters and benefit-carrying ingredients in this formula, in the order they are listed.
1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 30–80% of the formula.
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
2nd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
1,2-Dihydroxypentane
3rd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is a gentle skincare active that repairs the skin barrier, calms redness, controls oil and evens tone at 2–5%. Official IUPAC name: **3-Pyridinecarboxamide**
4th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Butane-1,3-diol (CAS No. 107-88-0/ EC No. 203-529-7) (R)-(-)-butane-1,3-diol” (CAS No. 6290-03-5/ EC No. 228-532-0)
6th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Glycerine ;Glycerol (INN); Glycerol (RIFM); Glycerolum (EP); Glycyl Alcohol; 1,2,3-Propanetriol; 1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane
7th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
alpha-D-Glucopyranoside, alpha-D-glucopyranosyl
10th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
1,2-Propanediol, 3-(2-ethylhexyloxy)
13th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Proline, 5-oxo-, zinc salt
15th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Portulaca Oleracea Extract is an extract of the whole plant of the Purselane, Portulaca oleracea L., Portulacaceae
19th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-ol; .alpha.-tocopherol; Vitamin E
Each axis is scored from the ingredients present and how high up the list they sit.
Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin
Lipids and repair signals that support skin barrier integrity
Ingredients that mop up free radicals from UV and pollution
Ingredients that moderate sebum or absorb shine
Ingredients that act on uneven tone and post-inflammatory marks
Ingredients aimed at visible redness and reactivity
Retinoids, acids and enzymes that speed surface turnover
Peptides and growth factors that signal for collagen support
"Active" here means an ingredient carrying a recorded active type or a recognised UV filter.
Solvents, emollients, texture agents and preservatives — the formula that carries the actives.
Read from the full ingredient list. A brand's own claim may differ.
Limonene, Linalool
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Limonene, Linalool
Judged by the same curated rules our routine checker uses. It reads the ingredients, not the label.
Nothing in this formula belongs to a group our rules can put in conflict, so it layers freely. Order still matters — thinnest texture first.
This product is the "Treat" step.
Flags to check, not verdicts. None of this is medical advice — if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or treating a skin condition, ask a doctor.
Most ingredients do more than one job, so these counts add up to more than the 21 ingredients on the label.
Dissolves and carries everything else
Draws water into the upper layers of skin
Botanical material, usually for antioxidants or scent
Sets the thickness, spread and stability of the formula
Changes how the product smells or looks
Neutralises free radicals from UV and pollution
Lifts oil and dirt, or holds oil and water together
Changes how skin behaves rather than how it feels
Binds trace metals that would otherwise spoil the formula
Forms a film that slows water loss
Every ingredient on the label, in order, with what it does and roughly how much of it is likely to be there.
1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 30–80% of the formula.
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
2nd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
1,2-Dihydroxypentane
3rd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is a gentle skincare active that repairs the skin barrier, calms redness, controls oil and evens tone at 2–5%. Official IUPAC name: **3-Pyridinecarboxamide**
4th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Butane-1,3-diol (CAS No. 107-88-0/ EC No. 203-529-7) (R)-(-)-butane-1,3-diol” (CAS No. 6290-03-5/ EC No. 228-532-0)
5th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
6th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Glycerine ;Glycerol (INN); Glycerol (RIFM); Glycerolum (EP); Glycyl Alcohol; 1,2,3-Propanetriol; 1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane
7th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
alpha-D-Glucopyranoside, alpha-D-glucopyranosyl
8th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
1,2,3-Propanetriol, homopolymer, dodecanoates (1:1) (10 mol glycerol average molar ratio)
9th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Xanthan gum
10th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
1,2-Propanediol, 3-(2-ethylhexyloxy)
11th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Disodium dihydrogen ethylenediaminetetraacetate
12th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil is the essential oil obtained from the flowering tops and leaves of the Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis L., Lamiaceae
13th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Proline, 5-oxo-, zinc salt
14th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
PPG-66 TEA Soybean Oil Maleate is a polymer made in two steps. First, Glycine Soja Oil is reacted with Maleic Anhydride. Then, separately, Triethanolamine is reacted with an average of 66 mols of propylene oxide. The propoxylated triethanolamine is reacted with the anhydride groups on the soybean oil derivative to produce the final product.
15th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Portulaca Oleracea Extract is an extract of the whole plant of the Purselane, Portulaca oleracea L., Portulacaceae
16th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Undecylenoyl Grape Seed Extract is the product obtained by the reaction of Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract with undecylenoyl chloride
17th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Saururus Chinensis Extract is the extract of the whole plant, Saururus chinensis, Saururaceae
18th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Rice Ferment Filtrate (sake) is a filtrate of the product obtained by the fermentation of Oryza sativa
19th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-ol; .alpha.-tocopherol; Vitamin E
20th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
1-Methyl-4-Isopropenylcyclohexene; dipentene
21st on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
3,7-Dimethyl octa-1,6-diene-3-ol
Products in the same category that share this formula's distinguishing ingredients.
Dr. Althea
Shares 10 key ingredients with 15% Niacinamide Purity Serum: Water, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin
Medicube
Shares 9 key ingredients with 15% Niacinamide Purity Serum: Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Trehalose, Pentylene Glycol
Abib
Shares 8 key ingredients with 15% Niacinamide Purity Serum: Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol
I Dew Care
Shares 8 key ingredients with 15% Niacinamide Purity Serum: Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol
SKIN1004
Shares 8 key ingredients with 15% Niacinamide Purity Serum: Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Numbuzin
Shares 8 key ingredients with 15% Niacinamide Purity Serum: Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Trehalose
WATER, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, NIACINAMIDE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, GLYCERIN, TREHALOSE, POLYGLYCERYL-10 LAURATE, XANTHAN GUM, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, DISODIUM EDTA, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS LEAF OIL, ZINC PCA, PPG-66 TEA SOYBEAN OIL MALEATE, PORTULACA OLERACEA EXTRACT, UNDECYLENOYL GRAPE SEED EXTRACT, SAURURUS CHINENSIS EXTRACT, RICE FERMENT FILTRATE, TOCOPHEROL, LIMONENE, LINALOOL.
NIACINAMIDE.
Apply a moderate amount to the face after toner, morning and evening, then gently pat in for better absorption. For enhanced brightening, layer 2–3 times. Finish with sunscreen for daytime use.
Judged on how rich the formula reads from its ingredient list, it suits Combination (oily), Oily skin best. It is the least natural fit for Dry, Combination (dry) skin.
No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.
2 ingredients could feed malassezia: Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil. That describes the yeast's food supply, not a prediction that they will cause a breakout.
Nothing in this formula is on the standard pregnancy-caution list. That is not medical clearance — check anything you use daily with your doctor or midwife.
No — it contains Limonene, Linalool.
No. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is no drying alcohol.
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is silicone-free.
Yes — it contains Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Limonene, Linalool.
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is paraben-free.
It layers well with Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), Retinoids (retinol, retinal), AHAs (glycolic, lactic), BHA (salicylic acid), PHAs (gluconolactone), Benzoyl peroxide.
Use it morning and evening, after toner, before moisturiser.
It lists 21 ingredients, of which 1 are recorded as actives.
Dr.Althea.
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