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Welcome to Skincarma.

These are the musings of Carmine Montalto, NYC-based writer, skincare junkie and brand guru. The former copywriter at Kiehl’s, Carmine has more than 25 years of experience in beauty. Through the Skincarma Blog, he puts all of his product wisdom to work demystifying the ever-evolving world of skin care. 

You can change your skin’s destiny.™

PRODUCT REVIEW: GOOD MOLECULES NIACINAMIDE TONER - BEST BRIGHTENING TONER, AMONG THE BEST NIACINAMIDE SERUMS

PRODUCT REVIEW: GOOD MOLECULES NIACINAMIDE TONER - BEST BRIGHTENING TONER, AMONG THE BEST NIACINAMIDE SERUMS

GOOD MOLECULES | NIACINAMIDE TONER

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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.

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!

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So, it’s timely that I find a new brightening toner that embraces its “niacinamideness”!

Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner contains 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.

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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.


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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 Toner for $14 here.



Orpheus finishes everything!

Orpheus finishes everything!

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 ++++ :

PRODUCTS I LOVE: SWEET CHEF NATURAL SKINCARE VITAMIN SHOTS - BEST NATURAL ANTI-AGING SERUMS

PRODUCTS I LOVE: SWEET CHEF NATURAL SKINCARE VITAMIN SHOTS - BEST NATURAL ANTI-AGING SERUMS

MY FALL EMPTIES 2020: GOOD MOLECULES NIACINAMIDE TONER, BANILA CLEAN IT ZERO, SKIN AQUA UV MOISTURE MILK AND MORE

MY FALL EMPTIES 2020: GOOD MOLECULES NIACINAMIDE TONER, BANILA CLEAN IT ZERO, SKIN AQUA UV MOISTURE MILK AND MORE