B-Boost 1% Kojic Acid Serum
NINELESS B-Boost 1% Kojic Acid Serum is a serum (30 ml) formulated with Niacinamide, a tone- and texture-focused brightening active.
No reviews yet30 ml
$33.30 per 100 ml
- Korean-market formula
- Ships from California or direct from Korea
- Korean barcode and batch code intact
- Suited to
- NormalCombinationDull or uneven-tone skinSensitive
- Helps with
- Skin looking for a tone- and texture-focused brightening activeSkin looking for a calming, irritation-easing ingredientA serum step in a Korean-style routineShoppers who want NINELESS's Korean-market formula rather than a US-reformulated version
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- 30-day returns
- Free US shipping on orders of $100 or more
- Tracked delivery to your door
How it works
NINELESS B-Boost 1% Kojic Acid Serum is a serum sold in NINELESS's Korean-market packaging and format. Niacinamide is listed 2nd of 36 ingredients, an early, prominent position on the list, carrying this formula's brightening and tone-evening work. Panthenol is listed 5th of 36 ingredients, an early, prominent position on the list, carrying the calming work this formula leans on for skin that reacts easily. Tranexamic Acid is listed 6th of 36 ingredients, an early, prominent position on the list, carrying this formula's brightening and tone-evening work. Kojic Acid and Ascorbyl Glucoside are also present on the list, in a supporting amount alongside the ingredients above. It takes the step after toner and before moisturizer of a Korean-style layering routine, used after toner, am and/or pm.
Key benefits
- Niacinamide sits right near the top of the 36-ingredient list, a tone-evening ingredient that works on visible unevenness and surface texture
- Glycerin sits right near the top of the 36-ingredient list, a foundational humectant that draws in and holds surface moisture
- Panthenol sits right near the top of the 36-ingredient list, a soothing, moisture-holding ingredient that supports comfort right after use
- Tranexamic Acid sits right near the top of the 36-ingredient list, tranexamic acid, a brightening ingredient positioned for an even, clear-looking tone
- Formulated as a serum or ampoule from NINELESS, sized for regular use in a routine
- Comes in a 30ml format, sized for a treatment step layered after toner or essence
Inside the formula
Inside the formula
What is NINELESS B-Boost 1% Kojic Acid Serum for?
It is a serum in NINELESS's Korean-market lineup, built around Niacinamide (2nd of 36 ingredients). After toner, AM and/or PM. Press or smooth over the face and let it settle before the next step. What ships is the same Korean-market formula and packaging NINELESS sells at home, not a US-reformulated version.
Where does this go in a routine, and how do I use it?
After toner, AM and/or PM. Press or smooth over the face and let it settle before the next step. It takes the step after toner and before moisturizer of a Korean-style layering routine. Give it a minute to settle before adding the next product on top.
Does B-Boost 1% Kojic Acid Serum contain Niacinamide?
Yes, Niacinamide is listed 2nd of 36 ingredients on the panel, an early, prominent position. It is a tone- and texture-focused brightening active in this formula, working alongside the other ingredients on the panel.
Is this the authentic Korean-market version, not a US retail reformulation?
Yes. What we ship is NINELESS's Korean-market formula and packaging, sourced for the Korean market rather than a US-facing reformulation. The intact Korean barcode and batch code on the box are part of that proof.
Who is this product best suited for?
Normal, Combination, Dull or uneven-tone skin and Sensitive skin types are the best fit, based on the actives on its ingredient panel. Patch test first, as with any new addition to a routine.
Not on the ingredient list below: fragrance or parfum, denatured or SD alcohol, essential oils, silicones, parabens, sulfate surfactants, mineral oil or petrolatum and added color.
Full INCI (35): Water, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Panthenol, Tranexamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Kojic Acid, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glutathione, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Arginine, Tocopherol, Glycereth-26, Disodium EDTA, Betaine, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, (-)-Alpha-Bisabolol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Nonapeptide-1
Ingredient list read from incidecoder.com on 30 August 2026.
34 of 35 explained
- Water solvent
- Water is the base almost every serum, toner and cream is built on. It dissolves the water-loving ingredients and sets how light the finished texture feels. On an INCI list it is usually first, which only means it is the largest single ingredient by weight.
- Niacinamide active
- Niacinamide is vitamin B3, and it is the most studied active in Korean formulation. It is used at roughly 2 to 5 percent for the look of uneven tone and visible pores, and it is water soluble, stable and comfortable beside almost every other active, which is why it turns up in so many lists.
- Methylpropanediol humectant
- Methylpropanediol is a small glycol used to hydrate and to help water-soluble actives penetrate the outer layer of skin more evenly. It leaves almost no tack, which suits watery textures.
- Glycerin humectant
- Glycerin is the most used humectant in skincare. It draws water into the outer layer of skin and holds it there, and it is one of the very few ingredients whose hydrating effect is settled science rather than marketing. Higher amounts feel tacky, which is why it is usually blended.
- Panthenol humectant
- Panthenol is pro-vitamin B5: skin converts it to pantothenic acid. It is a humectant that holds water and leaves skin feeling soft and less tight, and it is one of the ingredients formulators reach for when a formula also contains something harsh.
- Tranexamic Acid active
- Tranexamic Acid is a synthetic amino acid derivative used for the look of stubborn discolouration and post-blemish marks. It is water soluble, stable and comfortable next to niacinamide, which is how it is usually paired.
- 1,2-Hexanediol humectant
- 1,2-Hexanediol is a glycol used for two reasons: it holds water like glycerin, and it makes a formula harder for microbes to live in, so less traditional preservative is needed. Korean formulas use it heavily for that second reason.
- Kojic Acid active
- Kojic Acid comes from the fermentation of rice by Aspergillus, the mould used to make sake. It is used in formulas addressed to the look of uneven tone, and it darkens in air.
- Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract plant extract
- Sea buckthorn extract. The plant is unusually rich in vitamin C and carotenoids, and the extract is used as an antioxidant conditioning ingredient.
- Ascorbyl Glucoside antioxidant
- Ascorbyl Glucoside is vitamin C bound to glucose, which keeps it stable until enzymes in skin release it. It is a mild, slow-release route to a vitamin C formula.
- Dipropylene Glycol humectant
- Dipropylene Glycol is a glycol used as a solvent and a light humectant. Its main job is keeping the rest of the formula dissolved and the texture fluid rather than adding hydration of its own.
- Hydroxyacetophenone preservative booster
- Hydroxyacetophenone is an antioxidant that also strengthens a preservative system, so a formula needs less traditional preservative. Korean formulas pair it with 1,2-hexanediol constantly.
22 more explained
- Glutathione antioxidant
- Glutathione is a small peptide the body uses as one of its main antioxidants. In skincare it is used as an antioxidant and for the look of dullness; it is unstable in water, so formulas that carry it are usually built around protecting it.
- Butylene Glycol humectant
- Butylene Glycol is a small glycol that does two jobs at once: it holds water in the top layer of skin and it dissolves plant extracts and actives that plain water cannot. It also thins a formula, which is why watery Korean essences lean on it.
- Caprylyl Glycol preservative booster
- Caprylyl Glycol is a glycol that conditions skin and, more importantly, strengthens a preservative system so less of the traditional preservative is needed. It appears in most modern formulas built without parabens.
- Carbomer thickener
- Carbomer is a synthetic polymer that only gels once a base neutralises it, which is why arginine or tromethamine sits nearby on the list. It gives the clear, non-stringy gel texture a xanthan formula cannot reach.
- Arginine amino acid
- Arginine is an amino acid that does two jobs here: it holds water in the outer layer of skin, and it neutralises acidic gelling agents, which is why it often stands in for a synthetic pH adjuster.
- Tocopherol antioxidant
- Tocopherol is vitamin E. It is an oil-soluble antioxidant that protects the oils in a formula from going rancid and works on skin as an emollient, and it is regularly paired with vitamin C because each keeps the other going for longer.
- Glycereth-26 humectant
- Glycereth-26 is a modified glycerin that hydrates with far less stickiness than glycerin itself. It is a common way to load water into a formula that has to stay light.
- Disodium EDTA chelator
- EDTA is a chelator: it locks up trace metal ions from water and packaging that would otherwise turn a formula cloudy, off-colour or rancid. It does nothing to skin and appears at a fraction of a percent.
- Betaine humectant
- Betaine is a sugar-beet-derived humectant that cells use to hold water. In a formula it hydrates and takes the edge off cleansers and acids, which is why it often appears alongside them.
- Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract plant extract
- Amur cork tree bark, another traditional berberine-bearing herbal ingredient. It is yellow and appears in blends aimed at the look of congested skin.
- Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract plant extract
- Scutellaria Baicalensis is Chinese skullcap. Its root extract carries baicalin, a well studied plant antioxidant, and it is used for the look of redness.
- Coptis Chinensis Root Extract plant extract
- Chinese goldthread root, a traditional herbal ingredient carrying berberine. It is bright yellow and is used in formulas aimed at the look of congested skin.
- (-)-Alpha-Bisabolol active
- Bisabolol is the main active fraction of chamomile oil, usually supplied from candeia wood. It is used for the look of redness in formulas for reactive skin, and it helps other ingredients absorb.
- Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate active
- Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate is a water-soluble salt derived from licorice root. It is the licorice fraction Korean formulas use for the look of redness, and it is far more stable in water than the whole extract.
- Sodium Hyaluronate humectant
- Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt of hyaluronic acid, and it is what most products labelled hyaluronic actually contain. The salt dissolves more readily and the molecule is smaller, so it sits in the outer layer of skin rather than only on top of it.
- Ethylhexylglycerin preservative booster
- Ethylhexylglycerin softens skin and boosts a preservative system, which is why it is nearly always sitting beside phenoxyethanol or 1,2-hexanediol. It also cuts down the odour bacteria produce, so it turns up in deodorising products.
- Hexapeptide-9 peptide
- Hexapeptide-9 is a six-amino-acid peptide used for the look of firmness and elasticity. It is water soluble and appears in peptide blends rather than alone.
- Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 peptide
- Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 is the five-amino-acid peptide originally sold as Matrixyl. It is used for the look of fine lines and is one of the longest-standing cosmetic peptides.
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 peptide
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is a short peptide with a fatty tail added so it can travel through the oily outer layer of skin. It is used for the look of firmness and is almost always paired with palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7.
- Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 peptide
- Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 is a four-amino-acid peptide with a fatty tail, used for the look of fine lines. With palmitoyl tripeptide-1 it forms the pairing sold as Matrixyl 3000.
- Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 peptide
- Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 is a six-amino-acid peptide used for the look of expression lines, particularly around the eyes. It is the peptide sold under the name Argireline and is water soluble and stable.
- Nonapeptide-1 peptide
- Nonapeptide-1 is a nine-amino-acid peptide used for the look of uneven tone rather than for firmness, which makes it unusual among cosmetic peptides.
- Market
- Korean market, the version sold in Korea
- EAN (barcode)
- 8809875270165
- Made in
- Republic of Korea
- Volume
- 30 ml
- Category
- Serum & Ampoule
- Actives
- Bisabolol, Glutathione, Licorice Root, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Peptides, Sea Buckthorn, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tranexamic Acid, Vitamin C
- Ships from
- California or Korea
Orders ship from California or direct from Korea with tracked delivery to your door, and both routes carry the same Korean-market release. Shipping is free on orders of $100 or more. Returns are accepted for 30 days, by mail.
We split shipments free, so one out-of-stock item never holds up the rest of your order.
Where this unit came from
- 1Seoul
Bought as Korean-market stock - 2Barcode
Listed against the Korean barcode on its box - 3California or Korea
Ships to you from either, as the same Korean-market release
We stock the version of a formula that is sold in Korea, not the release a brand prepares for another market under the same name. The barcode in the specification above is the Korean-market one and it is printed on the box you receive.
Every unit keeps its original barcode and batch code intact, so the unit in your hands can be checked against the brand’s own records.
Every order ships from California or direct from Korea, and returns run for 30 days.
Every claim on this page traces to the unit in the box, the barcode, the batch code and the price you can read for yourself.
How to use
- Use the B-Boost 1% Kojic Acid Serum after toner and before moisturizer, morning and evening.
- Apply a small amount on skin and gently massage until fully absorbed. Apply adequate moisturizer and sunscreen next morning. Keep the serum in the refrigerator.
- Toner first so the surface is damp, then this, then about a minute before your moisturizer goes over the top.
- Twice a day, every day. Do not stack it with a second serum of the same kind; two hydrating serums in one routine do the work of one.
Worth knowing
- Patch test on the inner arm 24 hours before adding this to your face or scalp, as with any new product.
- Introduce it gradually alongside the rest of your routine rather than adding several new actives at once.
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NINELESS B-Boost 1% Kojic Acid Serum
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NINELESS, Korean-market original
NINELESS B-Boost 1% Kojic Acid Serum, serum or ampoule with Niacinamide, 30ml, Korean-market formula.
Verify your unit when it arrives
Verify your unit when it arrives
Korean-market stock with the original barcode and batch code intact, exactly as it left Korea.
On the unit itself
- The Korean-market barcode, unaltered from the retail package.
- The manufacturer’s batch code, exactly as the maker printed it.
정품Genuine article, Korean-market stock
What professionals say
What professionals say
What skin-care professionals say about skin care, quoted from the medical sources linked beside each.
Your skin barrier is basically your outer layer of the skin.
Melissa Piliang, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic Pretty much every step of a Korean skin care routine is going to have some component of hydration.
Alok Vij, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic
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