Black Sugar Perfect First Serum The Essential 150ml

Not on the ingredient list below: essential oils, silicones, parabens, sulfate surfactants, mineral oil or petrolatum and added color.

Full INCI (39): Water, Black Sugar Extract, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Propanediol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Arginine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Rice Ferment Filtrate (Sake), Glycolic Acid, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Salicylic Acid, Maackia Fauriei Stem Extract, Adenosine, Sucrose, Glucose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cellulose Gum, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium PCA, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Molasses, Caprylyl Glycol, Caramel, Fragrance

Ingredient list read from inkeedecoder.com on 10 September 2026.

34 of 39 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.

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.

Alcohol Denat solvent

Alcohol Denat. is ethanol with a bitter additive that makes it undrinkable, which is a tax rule rather than a formulation choice. It behaves like alcohol: a fast-evaporating solvent that gives a weightless finish and can feel drying at higher levels.

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.

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.

Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract plant extract

Prickly pear cactus stem extract, from the pad rather than the fruit. The pad is full of mucilage, so the extract hydrates and leaves a cushioned feel.

Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract plant extract

Witch hazel extract, the classic astringent plant. Its tannins bind to surface proteins, which is the tightening feel a toner built on it gives.

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate ferment

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate is a yeast ferment filtered clear, the ingredient that made the Korean and Japanese essence category. It carries amino acids, vitamins and organic acids and is used for the look of dullness and rough texture.

Propanediol humectant

Propanediol is a plant-derived glycol used in place of propylene glycol. It hydrates, carries actives into solution, and gives a lighter, less sticky slip than glycerin at the same strength.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract plant extract

Aloe Leaf Extract is mostly water with polysaccharides, amino acids and mild plant acids. It hydrates and leaves a light, cooling film, which is why it is the default after-sun ingredient.

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.

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.

Market

Korean market, the version sold in Korea

EAN (barcode)

8809032676182

Made in

Republic of Korea

Volume

150 ml

Category

Serum & Ampoule

Actives

Adenosine, Aloe Vera, Glycolic Acid, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate

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.

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.