2nd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)], .alpha.,.alpha.',.alpha.''-1,2,3-propanetriyltris[.omega.-hydroxy-
Hydration
Mary&May
Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum
face eyes serum
Mary&May
Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum
face eyes serum
Added Last edited
Fit by skin type
General, ingredient-based — not your personalized match.
Dry
53%
Combination (dry)
53%
Balanced
83%
Combination (oily)
87%
Oily
87%
See how this fits your skin
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8
Ingredients
4
Benefits
1
Actives
The Mary&May Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum is face serum formulated with Niacinamide and Chaenomeles Sinensis Extract to brighten up dull and unbalanced skin. Contains 2% Niacinamide to lighten skin by inhibiting the transfer of melanosomes and regulate sebum production for balanced skin and enriched with 93% Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract that is rich in Vitamin C and Flavonoids for smooth and radiant skin appearance.
Key Insights
Benefits
4
Anti-Aging
Hydration
Pore Minimizer
Soothing
Active Ingredients
1
Vitamin B3 (niacinamide)
Risks
1
Synthetic polymer
Full Ingredients
8 total
About Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum
Overview
Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum is a lightweight serum from Mary&May, a brand based in Korea. The formula is built mainly around hydration. The ingredient list runs to 8 ingredients, each broken down in full below.
Texture and finish
By its ingredient list the formula reads as light: water and humectants lead, with emollients kept lower in the order. Hydration is handled by Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycereth-26 and Arginine, humectants that pull water into the upper layers of skin rather than sealing it there.
What the formula does
Hydration: High. Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin, and here that comes from Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycereth-26 and Arginine.
Barrier support: Moderate. Lipids and repair signals that support skin barrier integrity, and here that comes from Niacinamide.
Oil control: Moderate. Ingredients that moderate sebum or absorb shine, and here that comes from Niacinamide.
Brightening: Moderate. Ingredients that act on uneven tone and post-inflammatory marks, and here that comes from Niacinamide.
Who it suits
On richness alone it suits Balanced, 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.
What it does not target
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.
What is not in it
Reading the full list, the formula is fragrance-free, essential-oil-free, no drying alcohol, paraben-free, silicone-free and microplastic-free. Those claims come from the ingredient list itself, not from the packaging.
Where it fits in a routine
It can be used morning and evening. In a routine it goes before moisturiser. Tap along the orbital bone with your ring finger; product migrates upward on its own.
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.
Pros and cons
Drawn purely from the ingredient list
Pros
- No fragrance or declared allergens
- No essential oils
- No drying alcohol
- Silicone-free
- No microplastics
- Strong humectant content for hydration
- No common irritants flagged in the list
- No recognised malassezia (fungal acne) triggers
Which skin types it suits
Scored on how rich or light the formula reads from its INCI order.
Suitable for
- Balanced skin
- Combination (oily) skin
- Oily skin
Less suitable for
- Dry skin
- Combination (dry) skin
Sensitive 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.
Skin concerns
Based on the curated benefits documented for this product's ingredients.
Helps with
-
Hydration 3 ingredients
Attracts and locks in moisture to keep skin plump and dewy
-
Anti-Aging 2 ingredients
Boosts collagen and cell turnover to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
-
Pore Minimizer 1 ingredient
Tightens and refines the look of enlarged pores
-
Soothing 1 ingredient
Calms redness, irritation, and inflammation for sensitive skin
Does not target
Anti-Acne
Blackhead Reducing
Dark Spot Fading
Evens Skin Tone
Oil Control
Smooths Bumpy Skin
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.
Key ingredients
The actives, UV filters and benefit-carrying ingredients in this formula, in the order they are listed.
Niacinamide
Vitamin B3 (niacinamide)
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**
Soothing
Anti-Aging
Pore Minimizer
5th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
L-Arginine
Hydration
Anti-Aging
7th 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)
Hydration
Formula analysis
Each axis is scored from the ingredients present and how high up the list they sit.
Hydration
High
Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin
Barrier support
Moderate
Lipids and repair signals that support skin barrier integrity
Antioxidant support
None
Ingredients that mop up free radicals from UV and pollution
Oil control
Moderate
Ingredients that moderate sebum or absorb shine
Brightening
Moderate
Ingredients that act on uneven tone and post-inflammatory marks
Soothing
Moderate
Ingredients aimed at visible redness and reactivity
Cell renewal
None
Retinoids, acids and enzymes that speed surface turnover
Firmness signalling
None
Peptides and growth factors that signal for collagen support
Active and supporting ingredients
"Active" here means an ingredient carrying a recorded active type or a recognised UV filter.
Active ingredients (1)
- Niacinamide · 5–20%
Supporting ingredients (7)
Solvents, emollients, texture agents and preservatives — the formula that carries the actives.
Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract
Glycereth-26
1,2-hexanediol
Arginine
Carbomer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Caprylyl Glycol
What is and is not in it
Read from the full ingredient list. A brand's own claim may differ.
Free from
- Fragrance-free
- Essential-oil-free
- No drying alcohol
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
- Microplastic-free
- Sulfate-free
- Dye-free
- Oil-free
- No animal-derived ingredients
What to layer it with
Judged by the same curated rules our routine checker uses. It reads the ingredients, not the label.
Compatible with
- Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)
- Retinoids (retinol, retinal)
- AHAs (glycolic, lactic)
- BHA (salicylic acid)
- PHAs (gluconolactone)
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Azelaic acid
- Copper peptides
- Bakuchiol
- Niacinamide
- Hyaluronic acid
- Ceramides
- Signal peptides
- Panthenol
- Sunscreen
Nothing in this formula belongs to a group our rules can put in conflict, so it layers freely. Order still matters — thinnest texture first.
Where it fits in a routine
Morning
Evening
- Cleanse
- Toning
- Eye
- Moisturise
- Protect
This product is the "Eye" step.
- Tap along the orbital bone with your ring finger; product migrates upward on its own.
Safety and suitability
Flags to check, not verdicts. None of this is medical advice — if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or treating a skin condition, ask a doctor.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Nothing in this formula is on the standard pregnancy-caution list. That is not clearance — ask your doctor about anything you use daily.
- Fungal acne (malassezia)
- No ingredient here is a recognised food source for malassezia.
- Sensitive and reactive 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.
- Recorded ingredient risks
- Synthetic polymer
Ingredients by function
Most ingredients do more than one job, so these counts add up to more than the 8 ingredients on the label.
2
Humectant
Draws water into the upper layers of skin
2
Emollient
Softens and smooths by filling gaps between skin cells
2
Texture agent
Sets the thickness, spread and stability of the formula
1
Active
Changes how skin behaves rather than how it feels
1
Antioxidant
Neutralises free radicals from UV and pollution
1
Occlusive
Forms a film that slows water loss
1
Plant extract
Botanical material, usually for antioxidants or scent
1
Solvent
Dissolves and carries everything else
Ingredient breakdown
Every ingredient on the label, in order, with what it does and roughly how much of it is likely to be there.
- Estimated level
- 10–40%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Humectant, Emollient, Occlusive, Antioxidant, Plant extract
1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 10–40% of the formula.
Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract is the extract derived from the fruit of Chaenomeles sinensis, Rosaceae
- Estimated level
- 5–20%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Humectant, Texture agent
2nd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)], .alpha.,.alpha.',.alpha.''-1,2,3-propanetriyltris[.omega.-hydroxy-
Hydration
2 scientific references
- Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, February 2020, ePublication
- Cosmetic Ingredient Review, March 2019, pages 1-11
- Estimated level
- 5–20%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Active
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**
Soothing
Anti-Aging
Pore Minimizer
15 scientific references
- International Journal of Dermatology, February 2021, pages 166-173
- Biomolecules & Therapeutics, July 2019, pages 562-569
- Experimental Dermatology, February 2019, pages 15-22
- Dermatologic Therapy, September 2017, ePublication
- Journal of Investigative Dermatology, May 2017, page S116
- International Journal of Pharmaceutics, March 2017, pages 158-162
- Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America, May 2016, pages 145-152
- Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology, July 2015, pages 405-412
- Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, June 2014, pages 311-315
- International Journal of Pharmacy, January 2013, pages 192-201
- Dermatoendrocrinology, July 2012, pages 308-319
- International Journal of Toxicology, September 2005, pages 1-31
- Dermatologic Surgery, July 2005, pages 860-865
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science, October 2004, pages 231-238
- Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, April 2004, pages 88-93
- Estimated level
- 2–10%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Solvent
4th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
5
Arginine
- Estimated level
- 2–10%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
5th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
L-Arginine
Hydration
Anti-Aging
6 scientific references
- Biobased Surfactants (Second Edition), 2019, pages 413-445
- Scientific Reports, February 2016, pages 1-10
- Cosmetic Ingredient Review, October 2012, pages 1-35
- Journal of Advanced Research, July 2010, pages 169–177
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science, April 2005, page 139
- Wound Repair and Regeneration, November-December 2003, pages 419-423
- Estimated level
- under 1%
- Confidence
- Moderate — listed below the 1% line
- Roles
- Texture agent
6th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2-Propenoic acid, polymer with 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol 2-propenyl ether
Synthetic polymer
- Estimated level
- under 1%
- Confidence
- Moderate — listed below the 1% line
7th 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)
Hydration
5 scientific references
- PLoS One, October 2016, ePublication
- Contact Dermatitis, May 2016, pages 281-288
- International Journal of Toxicology, September 2013, pages 5S-21S
- Personal Care, 2008, pages 1-4
- Cosmetic Science Technology, 2006, pages 1-11
- Estimated level
- under 1%
- Confidence
- Moderate — listed below the 1% line
- Roles
- Emollient
8th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Octane-1,2-diol
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Frequently asked questions
What ingredients are in Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum?
CHAENOMELES SINENSIS FRUIT EXTRACT, GLYCERETH-26, NIACINAMIDE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, ARGININE, CARBOMER, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL.
What are the active ingredients in Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum?
NIACINAMIDE.
How do I use Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum?
Take a proper amount using the dropper. Gently massage on skin following the skin's texture. Reapply on the dry eye area.
What skin types is Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum good for?
Judged on how rich the formula reads from its ingredient list, it suits Balanced, Combination (oily), Oily skin best. It is the least natural fit for Dry, Combination (dry) skin.
Is Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum good for sensitive 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.
Is Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum fungal acne safe?
No ingredient in this formula is a recognised food source for malassezia, the yeast behind fungal acne.
Can I use Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum while pregnant?
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.
Is Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum fragrance free?
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is fragrance-free.
Does Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum contain alcohol?
No. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is no drying alcohol.
Is Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum silicone free?
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is silicone-free.
Does Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum contain essential oils?
No. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is essential-oil-free.
Is Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum paraben free?
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is paraben-free.
What can I layer with Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum?
It layers well with Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), Retinoids (retinol, retinal), AHAs (glycolic, lactic), BHA (salicylic acid), PHAs (gluconolactone), Benzoyl peroxide.
When should I apply Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum?
Use it morning and evening, before moisturiser.
How many ingredients does Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum have?
It lists 8 ingredients, of which 1 are recorded as actives.
Who makes Niacinamide + Chaenomeles Sinensis Serum?
Mary&May, a brand based in Korea.