2% Hydroquinone + Azelaic Acid 4% + Niacinamide 4% Serum

• Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf ExtractSkin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant
• PropanediolSolvent, Viscosity Controlling, Viscosity Decreasing Agent
• Azelaic AcidFragrance Ingredient, Ph Adjuster, Buffering, Masking
• NiacinamideSkin Conditioning, Hair Conditioning, Smoothing

  Ingredient Notes

  Niacinamide is a B vitamin, but not one of the B vitamins linked to Malassezia. Growth work names thiamine (B1) and pyridoxine (B6) as increasing growth alongside a lipid, without being required for it. Thiamine is not food for the yeast: it speeds the step that turns an amino acid into the carbon skeleton it uses, and supplying that skeleton directly removes the need for thiamine entirely. B3 is not named in any of that work. We rate niacinamide safe on that evidence rather than treating the whole B group as one risk, and nothing we hold shows it treats fungal acne either.

  EWG1

  CIRS

  References

  • https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03616-3_4
  • https://doi.org/10.3181/00379727-58-14895
  • https://doi.org/10.1007/s004030050304
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5605215/
  • https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/dth.12481
  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25399625/
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3724370/
• Polysorbate 80Fungal Acne TriggerSurfactant, Emulsifying, Denaturant

  May cause fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) breakouts.

  EWG3

  CIRSQ
• HydroquinoneFragrance, Antioxidant, Skin Bleaching Agent, Hair Dyeing, Hair Dyeing Reducing
• 1,2-HexanediolSolvent
• Sodium HyaluronateSkin Conditioning, Humectant
• Salicylic AcidSkin Conditioning, Masking, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Antidandruff Agent, Antiacne Agent, Denaturant, Preservative, Exfoliant, Keratolytic, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover
• Kojic AcidAntioxidant
• Lactic AcidSkin Conditioning, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Exfoliant, Skin-Conditioning, Humectant
• Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf ExtractSkin Conditioning, Cosmetic Astringent
• Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) ExtractAntioxidant; Skin Conditioning
• Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf ExtractSkin Conditioning, Antioxidant, Skin Repairing, Antioxidant, Perfuming
• Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) ExtractSkin Conditioning, Fragrance, Perfuming
• Aspalathus Linearis ExtractSkin Conditioning, Antioxidant

Packaging and formulations can change. Always verify the live box, bottle, or retailer ingredient list before use.