Side-by-side comparison

Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum : Propolis + Niacinamide vs The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Both are serums built on the same key active: Niacinamide. That makes them genuine alternatives, so price, texture and the supporting ingredients decide it.

1Shared hero active

Beauty of Joseon

Glow Serum : Propolis + Niacinamide

SerumBudgetMorning or evening

DullnessDamaged BarrierDrynesssensitive

60% propolis extract with 2% niacinamide — brightening, barrier-supporting, very gentle. The hero K-beauty serum for dull, dehydrated or mildly congested skin. Skip if you have a bee allergy; otherwise this one is hard to mess up.

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The Ordinary

Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

SerumBudgetEvening only

OilinessAcneDark SpotsRough Texture

High-dose niacinamide serum targeting sebum regulation, visible pore appearance and post-acne marks. Water-based, fragrance-free, and compatible with almost every other active on the shelf — the default oil-control serum for combination and oily skin.

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The verdict

Which should you choose?

Both formulas lean on Niacinamide, so for the ingredient doing the work they're close alternatives. Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide is the better fit for dullness, a damaged barrier, dryness and sensitive skin; The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% for oiliness, acne, dark spots and rough texture. Both sit in the Budget price tier. Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide is flagged morning or evening; The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is flagged evening only.

The overlap

What they share

This hero active appears in both formulas:

Niacinamide

The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide — top of the list

Propolis Extract60%
Butylene Glycol~5–25%
Glycerin~3–10%
Niacinamide2%
1,2-Hexanediol~1.5–4%

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% — top of the list

Aqua (Water)~50–80%
Niacinamide10%
Pentylene Glycol~3–10%
Zinc PCA1%
Dimethyl Isoso…~1.5–4%

● marks ingredients that appear near the top of both lists. Percentages are positional estimates from INCI order, not disclosed doses.

At a glance

The specs

	Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide	The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Category	Serum	Serum
Price tier	Budget	Budget
Best for	Dullness, Damaged Barrier, Dryness	Oiliness, Acne, Dark Spots
Usage notes	Morning or evening	Evening only
Shared hero actives	Niacinamide

Questions

Common questions

Is the Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum : Propolis + Niacinamide or The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% better?

Neither is clearly better on ingredients, since both rely on Niacinamide. Choose on price, texture and how your skin responds to the rest of the formula.

What's the difference between the Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum : Propolis + Niacinamide and The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%?

Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide's hero actives are Niacinamide. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%'s are Niacinamide.

Are the Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum : Propolis + Niacinamide and The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% dupes for each other?

Yes, on the ingredient that matters. Both are built around Niacinamide, though concentrations, texture and the supporting ingredients can still differ.

Can I use the Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum : Propolis + Niacinamide and The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% together?

Usually, yes. Apply the thinner texture first, then the thicker one, and patch-test when introducing anything new.

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