You know how I’m always side-eyeing fancy serums that cost more than my electric bill? Well, I found the one that makes them look stupid.
Ran a blind test with three friends — this $12.50 toner beat a $60 niacinamide serum on pore visibility. Every single time. I almost deleted the group chat out of spite.
It’s Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner — a milky, no-frills toner that claims to shrink pores and even tone. $12.50. No influencer hype. I bought it purely because the ingredient list looked like a skincare nerd’s fever dream.
5% Niacinamide
Pore-refining without the sting — I can layer it twice and my face doesn’t rebel.
Tranexamic Acid
Fades the weird red patches I get from picking at nothing.
Licorice Root
Smells like herbal tea, but actually calms redness in about 90 seconds.
Photo: Elsa Olofsson / Unsplash
This thing is basically a science experiment that went right. The star is tranexamic acid — normally saved for $80 serums — but they also snuck in some gentle exfoliants so you’re not just slapping on goo.
- Niacinamide: Balances oil without drying you into a lizard
- Tranexamic Acid: Targets dark spots like a tiny assassin
- Licorice Root Extract: Anti-inflammatory that actually feels cooling
- Zinc PCA: Keeps your nose from becoming an oil slick
Photo: Element5 Digital / Unsplash
It’s watery — like, drips through your fingers watery — so I tap it in fast. Absorbs in 10 seconds flat. No sticky film. No weird residue on my phone screen later.
Week 2: my pores looked… bored? Like they just gave up being visible. Week 3: the red spot on my chin (you know the one) literally halved in size. Unexpected downside: it made my nose a little shiny midday, so I had to dust powder. Annoying but worth it.
Photo: Content Pixie / Unsplash
Pores visibly smaller? Yes — about 30% less noticeable. Redness? Toned down a solid notch. But my dark spots are stubborn — they faded maybe 20% after a month. Not a miracle, but not nothing for twelve bucks.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
This toner does what it says — shrinks pores, evens skin, costs less than a pizza. I’m mad at every luxury brand that charges five times more for half the results.