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Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum vs No.5 Vitamin Concentrated Serum: which is better?

One leans toward glow and oil control, the other toward dark-spot fading and a gentler brightening routine.

The quick answer

Depends what you need

  • Rated about the same — 87 vs 84 nextscore

Beauty of Joseon suits glow, oil control, and lighter layering; numbuzin fits dark spots and a more gradual brightening routine.

Choose Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum if

  • you want oil control without a heavy feel
  • your skin handles niacinamide well

Choose No.5 Vitamin Concentrated Serum if

  • you want help with stubborn dark spots
  • you prefer a gentler brightening serum

At a glance

Beauty of Joseon Glow SerumNo.5 Vitamin Concentrated Serum
$0.45/ml$0.57/ml
87 · 58 verdicts84 · 63 verdicts
Niacinamide bothNiacinamide both, Vitamin C, Tranexamic Acid

What Reddit says

Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum

What Reddit likes

  • Niacinamide plus propolis — the glow serum crowd favorite
  • Oil control and pore refinement without feeling heavy
  • Layers cleanly under moisturizer and makeup

Watch out for

  • Can sting damaged or sensitized barriers
  • Some acne-prone users break out on it
  • Tea tree and betaine salicylate add irritation risk

No.5 Vitamin Concentrated Serum

What Reddit likes

  • Tranexamic acid + niacinamide for dark spots
  • Gentler than a lot of vitamin C serums
  • Vitamin C derivatives, arbutin, glutathione

Watch out for

  • Results are slow unless you stick with it for months
  • Can break out acne-prone or niacinamide-sensitive skin
  • Heavy enough to feel greasy in summer
Compare full ingredient lists · 17 in common

In both · 17

  1. Water
  2. Glycerin
  3. Butylene Glycol
  4. Niacinamide
  5. 1,2-Hexanediol
  6. Tromethamine
  7. Xanthan Gum
  8. Carbomer
  9. Ethylhexylglycerin
  10. Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
  11. Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
  12. Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
  13. Sodium Hyaluronate
  14. Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract
  15. Corallina Officinalis Extract
  16. Pentylene Glycol
  17. Tocopherol

Only in Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum · 13

  1. Dipropylene Glycol
  2. Propolis Extract
  3. Betaine Salicylate
  4. Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
  5. Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
  6. Dextrin
  7. Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract
  8. Melaleuca Alternifolia (TEA Tree) Extract
  9. Centella Asiatica Extract
  10. Methylpropanediol
  11. Lotus Corniculatus Seed Extract
  12. Octanediol
  13. Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil

Only in No.5 Vitamin Concentrated Serum · 30

  1. Panthenol
  2. Tranexamic Acid
  3. Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate
  4. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
  5. Sorbitol
  6. Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract
  7. Behenyl Alcohol
  8. Chondrus Crispus Extract
  9. Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
  10. 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
  11. Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract
  12. Alpha-Arbutin
  13. Bisabolol
  14. Bifida Ferment Lysate
  15. Adenosine
  16. Hydrogenated Lecithin
  17. Allantoin
  18. Glutathione
  19. Disodium EDTA
  20. Ceramide NP
  21. Beta-Glucan
  22. Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
  23. Ascorbic Acid
  24. Ascorbyl Glucoside
  25. Tocopheryl Acetate
  26. Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
  27. Ubiquinone
  28. Thioctic Acid
  29. Tremella Fuciformis (Mushroom) Extract
  30. Potassium Hydroxide

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