Purito Seoul TXA 6 Niacinamide 10 Retinal Serum Review – Ultimate Radiance Treatment?

Purito Seoul is a sensitive skincare brand that originally specialized in centella asciatica extract and carefully integrating it into nourishing remedies. They are also responsible for two of the best moisturizers in K-Beauty; the Bamboo Panthenol Cream and Oat-In Calming Gel. Designed to soothe, nourish and boost skin – Purito Seoul is a beloved K-beauty brand to treat easily irritated, dry and sensitive skin. Coming from the word ‘Pure’ and Korean ‘To’ (for earth), their formulas are always gentle on the skin. 

So, creating a serum with retinal and niacinamide - traditionally irritating agents, seems out of left field! Surely, 10% niacinamide infused with 6% TXA and retinal is going to lead to irritation of the skin or redness. Or has Purito unlocked the secret to making niacinamide for sensitive skin too? Is this serum also acne safe? What are the results? We’ll only know, when we put it to the test! 

Niacinamide: brightening vitamin B3 that helps even skin tone and infuses a deep glow for a radiant finish. Can be irritating in high doses, but a beloved in skincare for its ability to balance skin. 

Tranexamic acid: reducing dark spots and improving skin circulation for improved healing, glow and helping cool general redness. 

Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone: a powerful antioxidant that helps improve fine lines and boost natural cell healing, combating environmental pollutants to reduce cell stress. 

Adenosine: rich and moisturizing agent that helps boost skin cell turnover, and boost growth to improve fine lines and soften natural texture for smooth, refreshed appearance. 

Lactococcus Ferment Lysate: natural skin probiotics that help boost hydration, support skin immune function and help balance the microbiome for lasting skin health. 

Centella asciatica extract: beloved Korean skincare ingredient that helps heal skin damage, cool inflammatory process and improve natural hydration for a healthy, refreshed finish. 

Ficus (Fig) Extract: vitamin-rich extract that helps balance oils on the skin and improve natural brightness, for a refreshed and more even skin tone. 

Retinal: strong derivative of vitamin A (retinol), which boosts collagen production (to smooth fine lines) and improves cell turnover, helping treat dark spots, acne and scarring. 

Ceramide NP: small molecule that helps fill cracks in the skin barrier, preventing moisture loss and treats dry skin. 

Tocopherol: rich vitamin E that provides a layer of protection for skin cells (against environmental pollutants and UV damage), whilst enhancing moisture for softer, dewy skin. 

Glutathione: protective agent that helps carefully reduce dark spots in skin, by inhibiting enzymes that produce melanin. Perfect for sensitive skin for a gentle touch. 

Allantoin: promotes regeneration of skin structures, whilst boosting hydration and cooling inflammation for a refreshed, calm finish. 

This serum has been carefully constructed to be gentle and suitable for all skin types. It shouldn’t be combined with other retinoid products (i.e. retinol eye cream or retinal toner), as this can lead to retinol burn. This serum is also designed to be acne-friendly and well-balanced for oily skin types. It may not be suitable for dry skin types (not as hydrating as alternatives) or in pregnancy (due to retinal content).

I have acne-prone skin and plenty of post-inflammatory scars, so I’m always delighted to try out a niacinamide/TXA serum. Staring at the ingredients listed on the title of the bottle, I was sure I was in for an irritating time. The combination of niacinamide and retinal seems like an extreme one and I very carefully integrated it into my routine, starting with just two drops every few days and worked my way up. This actually proved to be almost unnecessary, as this serum is the most gentle niacinamide serum that I’ve tested. There was zero irritation or redness, even at 10% and this is likely due to the careful balance of nourishing agents that have also been put in the bottle (i.e. ibedenone, centella, probiotics, vitamin E, ceramides). It’s soft and hydrating to the skin. It does take a little while to absorb but creates a delicate and protective layer. 

I could easily use this serum everyday with zero irritation, even when using in combination with my usual retinol toner. I was also so excited to see the probiotics inside, as this is a newer trend of K-beauty.

Probiotics help ‘re-balance’ your microbiome, which is an important step to ‘curing’ acne and preventing future outbreaks. Replacing damaging, acne-causing bacteria with stronger and helpful bacteria helps improve your skin texture in the long-term and will prevent acne getting more severe in future. 

Here is the before and after of two weeks using. You can see the reduction in active acne and the improvement to skin texture. It was easily integrated into any routine and it provided a gentle glow. It was a stark contrast to other niacinamide serums, cooling and hydrating and really balancing – making it a perfect addition to almost any routine (especially with dark spots and acne). I would really recommend it to anyone, but especially for sensitive skin and for those who dislike the naturally irritating nature of niacinamide (but still want those glowing benefits). It’s easy-to-use, brightening and maintains Purito’s mastery over sensitive skincare. 

This light serum is officially the gentlest niacinamide serum on the market. It's perfect for sensitive skin, dark spots and acne. It has a wonderful synergy, balanced with nourishing probiotics, ceramides and hydrating agents – to not only balance skin, but also provide long-term repair. If you are after a gentle routine, but still want to tackle stubborn spots, this serum is perfect for you!

Excited for sensitive skincare? Check out the amazing range of authentic K-Beauty from Purito Seoul, available on Arktastic. Shipped directly to your door from our Australian warehouse.

Excited from more skincare reviews? Check out our review of the Medicube Azelaic acid microneedling serum for deep acne care. Or check out our guide to the history of Axis-Y, K-Beauty's most famous vegan skincare.

Medicube Azelaic Acid 2000 Serum Review 

The History of Axis Y