Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner review

Not horrible, but also not that great. Also, how does it compare to The Ordinary, what are Niacinamide benefits, where does the brand come from, and finally, is it any good?! All that and more in my Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner review.

Beautylish – Good Molecules

Picture the scene: it’s 2018, The Ordinary is the hot shit everywhere and Brandon Truaxe pulls the brand from Beautylish’s site where it had been sold with great success. Beautylish got their thinking caps out and Good Molecules was born. It, therefore, has all the trimmings of a skincare brand that includes a lot of things that’re on trend right now: research-based formulas including a lot of actives, somewhat sustainable packaging, low pricing. It’s made in South Korea, which leads me to think that they’re trying to position their brand in Asia at one point.

Good Molecules vs. The Ordinary

I’d characterize their products as a cross between The Ordinary and Paula’s Choice: GM’s products both include ‘single ingredient’ products that’re similar to TO (Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide Serums), and products that have the PC approach of ‘let’s put every single beneficent ingredient for that concern in that formula, why don’t we’ (Niacinamide Brightening Toner, Discoloration Correcting Serum, Daily Brightening Serum).

Good Molecules generally seems a bit more gimmicky or on trend, DOES include fragrance in some of their products and seems a bit pricier than TO.

Good Molecules skincare

The brand also manages to hit the bull’s eye of things I hate about skincare brands: First, the name. Does that imply there’re also ‘bad’ molecules out there that you don’t want in your skincare?! In a similar vein, they’ve liberally sprinkled their site with the word ‘safe’ (‘safe’ to use etc.). A total marketing move, nothing more.

And then, of course, their newest schtick: including the percentage of ingredients in their inci-lists. Nice, but totally useless for a consumer like you and me, because we all know by now that percentages of ingredients actually say little about the formulation. (Remember, that sunscreen scandal thingie?!)

I also want to stress that I don’t do brand reviews because I think it oversimplifies the following: that one product could work for you while another one doesn’t. I strongly believe in cherry picking products that deliver what YOUR skin needs.  

My toners and me, a long story

To keep this review at a readable length, read the deal about toner here. My fave, the cosrx Galactomyces Toner, was discontinued in 2020, and so far, I tried Paula’s Choice’s Calm Toner, cosrx cica toner and cosrx propolis toner to replace it.

What drew me to Good Molecules’ Niacinamide Brightening Toner was the name and its similarity to the sorely missed cosrx Galactomyces Toner: both are supposed to brighten and renew.

Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner review

“Promote bright, even skin and less visible pores with this alcohol-free toner from Good Molecules. Niacinamide Brightening Toner is formulated with a soothing blend of brightening ingredients that work to reduce the appearance of dullness, uneven skin tone, and enlarged pores.”

Good Molecules

Ingredients

The Niacinamide Brightening Toner actually isn’t just your hydrating and balancing toner. It rather packs a punch: Niacinamide (duh), Arbutin, a form of Vitamin C, and liquorice root extract for brightening. A few soothing and hydrating ingredients like Saccharomyces Extract (the fermented yeast extract that is the hero ingredient in SK-II’s famous toner) and hyaluronic acid. And on top, antioxidants. Yup, it’s a lot. I think it’s also the reason that people complained about reacting to it: there’re really a lot of actives included.

Also, some people’s skin can’t tolerate Saccharomyces, and then, the Niacinamide content is 10%. That might not seem high, but most studies on Niacinamide are done with amounts up to 5% and conclude that this amount is sufficient to act anti-inflammatory, reducing sebum production and hyperpigmentation. Everything above 5% might irritate skin.

What it does

It’s not difficult to see why I was all over this: brightening! Soothing!! Reduce uneven skintone!!! Fermented stuff!!!!

Niacinamide benefits

They’re great antioxidants, are brightening, especially if you suffer from hyperpigmentation. They’re also anti-infammatory, which makes them a great tool against acne. It’s also great for drier skin, because Niacinamide helps to bind water.

Twindly: Paula’s Choice – Five Favourites

I’ve reviewed The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% & 1% Zinc Serum AGES ago (and didn’t like it a lot). My Niacinamide staple is Paula’s Choice’s 10% Niacinamide Booster (review), and in both posts you’ll find a bit more about Niacinamide’s properties.

Application

I use the Niacinamide Brightening Toner as the second step in my skincare routine, right after cleansing. It’s a rather viscous liquid, thicker than water, but thinner than an essence. I don’t smell anything when using it. Also, again: no need to waste product by using a cotton pad with it. I pour it into my hand and use patting motions to spread it. It comes in a heavy, dark glass bottle. I’m reasonably sure that it protects the active ingredients included in the formula.

Effect

I wasn’t really wowed when I used the Niacinamide Brightening Toner for the first time. Sure, application is enjoyable – it feels nicely hydrating and soothing. But I used it when the first cold days arrived, and my skin doesn’t react well to changing weather. So, whether it was rather aggravated and angry looking because of the toner or the weather? I don’t know. I definitely had more breakouts than usual during the time I used it.

Which is a pity, because my skin’s moisture levels were really, really good when I used it: When I got up in the morning I measured an average of 42,3 for hydration and 28,3 for oil. After using it and waiting 30 minutes, it was on average 47,9 for hydration and 25,8 for oil. Which is maybe the highest levels I’ve ever had after just using a toner?!

I definitely didn’t see any improvements regarding brightening/even skintone/ reduced dullness. Bummer.

Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner review: Worth it?

I’m torn. While it delivers on hydration, it in no way delivers on the other promises it makes. I also suspect it for breaking me out/making my uneven skintone worse. If you’re tempted to try it, I’d make sure beforehand that your skin likes/tolerates high concentrations of Niacinamide, Arbutin, Vitamin C and Saccharomyces.

I’m usually doing very well with the last two ingredients, while I’ve never used Arbutin before. Maybe it was just too much: because, after toner, I of course proceeded with my usual routine of serum/moisturiser, both of which include active ingredients.

120ml are $14 at Beautylish.

Please note that this review is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods, or money, for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.