Mary & May Rice Niacin 10% Triple Vitamin Serum bottle with dropper, K-beauty brightening serum with 10% niacinamide, 1% Korean Hiami rice extract, 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid stable vitamin C, 3% panthenol, glutathione, and alpha-bisabolol
Good choice for Hyperpigmentation
What Makes This Different

Mary & May combines 10% niacinamide (upper effective range) with 1% Korean Hiami rice extract, 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid stable vitamin C, 3% panthenol, glutathione, and alpha-bisabolol in a multi-active brightening serum. The high niacinamide concentration plus Korean rice tradition chemistry is distinctive K-beauty multi-mechanism brightening.

Mary & May

Mary & May Rice Niacin 10% Triple Vitamin Serum Review

10% Niacinamide Brightening Serum
serum serum k beauty Paraben Free Fungal Acne Safe Cruelty Free Vegan

Mary & May's Rice Niacin 10% Triple Vitamin Serum combines 10% niacinamide with 1% Korean Hiami rice extract, ethyl vitamin C, 3% panthenol, glutathione, and alpha-bisabolol in a multi-active K-beauty brightening serum. At $28.10 for 80ml the value is strong. High niacinamide concentration may cause flushing in sensitive users.

$28.10
80ml / 2.7 fl oz
4.5 ★★★★★
420 reviews
Made in South Korea Launched 2024 All-year use PAO: 12 months
Buy at Amazon ♥
Run it through our tools Clashes with my routine? Pregnancy-safe? Find a cheaper dupe Patch-test it first

Released 2024 (Seoul Edition); approximately 420 reviews accumulated.

Verdicts

How well it fits each concern

Verdict by concern tap a concern for the case

Good choicefor HyperpigmentationNiacinamide is a trial-supported active for hyperpigmentation; this serum carries it at 10%.Moderate evidenceGentleNo reviews collected yet

The case for it

  1. Niacinamide has trial-supported standing for this concern.
  2. It is present at an effective concentration, declared or high in the ingredient list.
  3. The formula carries none of the triggers this concern is sensitive to.

Same rule for everyone. “Good choice” is the verdict on 9,564 of 45,024 concern verdicts across the catalog; rule R5 decided 9,072 of them. Unchanged since September 5, 2026, engine 5.1.1.

Brand or formulator? Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →

Show the work
Rule
R5 — Trial-supported or guideline-supported active, adequately or plausibly dosed. · the full register
Carrying active
Niacinamide
Standing
supported — trials support it
Form
adequate (declared 10%) — studied range 2–5%, from the trials on the row; needs leave-on contact; judge it after ~8 weeks
Tolerability
gentle
Row checked
against its sources on July 17, 2026 (evidence table ev-2026.09-r228)

The studies behind the evidence row

All hyperpigmentation products →
Promisingfor Excess OilinessNiacinamide has trial-level evidence for excess oiliness but no guideline or regulatory standing yet — promising, short of a recommendation; the other actives here are not yet assessed for it.Moderate evidenceStandard tolerabilityNo reviews collected yet

The case for it

  1. Niacinamide has trial-level evidence for this concern but no guideline or regulatory standing yet.
  2. It is present at an effective concentration, declared or high in the ingredient list.
  3. The formula carries no trigger this concern is sensitive to, with the cautions noted.

Cautions: fungal-acne triggers.

What would change this: Guideline or regulatory standing for the active on this concern would move this from a promising bet to a recommendation.

Same rule for everyone. “Promising” is the verdict on 7,858 of 45,024 concern verdicts across the catalog; rule R9p decided 7,858 of them. Unchanged since September 5, 2026, engine 5.1.1.

Brand or formulator? Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →

Show the work
Rule
R9p — 0.5.0: 'Unproven' beside three filled dots read as one question answered twice with opposite words (7,018 rows). The chip measures standing, the dots measure trial volume; where the row carries at least one RCT or a tier-2 source (moderate dots) and the active is present at a working level, the honest word is Promising. Unproven is reserved for plausible-standing rows with limited or weak evidence, or an under-dosed form. Same rank as Unproven — a bet either way; the dots order them. · the full register
Carrying active
Niacinamide
Standing
plausible — trials support it
Form
adequate (declared 10%) — studied range 2%, from the trials on the row; needs leave-on contact; judge it after ~8 weeks
Tolerability
standard — fungal triggers
Row checked
against its sources on July 17, 2026 (evidence table ev-2026.09-r228)

The studies behind the evidence row

All excess oiliness products →
Promisingfor Dark SpotsNiacinamide has trial-level evidence for dark spots but no guideline or regulatory standing yet — promising, short of a recommendation; the other actives here are not yet assessed for it.Moderate evidenceGentleNo reviews collected yet

The case for it

  1. Niacinamide has trial-level evidence for this concern but no guideline or regulatory standing yet.
  2. It is present at an effective concentration, declared or high in the ingredient list.
  3. The formula carries none of the triggers this concern is sensitive to.

What would change this: Guideline or regulatory standing for the active on this concern would move this from a promising bet to a recommendation.

Same rule for everyone. “Promising” is the verdict on 7,858 of 45,024 concern verdicts across the catalog; rule R9p decided 7,858 of them. Unchanged since September 5, 2026, engine 5.1.1.

Brand or formulator? Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →

Show the work
Rule
R9p — 0.5.0: 'Unproven' beside three filled dots read as one question answered twice with opposite words (7,018 rows). The chip measures standing, the dots measure trial volume; where the row carries at least one RCT or a tier-2 source (moderate dots) and the active is present at a working level, the honest word is Promising. Unproven is reserved for plausible-standing rows with limited or weak evidence, or an under-dosed form. Same rank as Unproven — a bet either way; the dots order them. · the full register
Carrying active
Niacinamide
Standing
plausible — trials support it
Form
adequate (declared 10%)
Tolerability
gentle
Row checked
against its sources on July 17, 2026 (evidence table ev-2026.09-r228)

The studies behind the evidence row

All dark spots products →
Promisingfor Large PoresNiacinamide has trial-level evidence for large pores but no guideline or regulatory standing yet — promising, short of a recommendation; the other actives here are not yet assessed for it.Moderate evidenceGentleNo reviews collected yet

The case for it

  1. Niacinamide has trial-level evidence for this concern but no guideline or regulatory standing yet.
  2. It is present at an effective concentration, declared or high in the ingredient list.
  3. The formula carries none of the triggers this concern is sensitive to.

What would change this: Guideline or regulatory standing for the active on this concern would move this from a promising bet to a recommendation.

Same rule for everyone. “Promising” is the verdict on 7,858 of 45,024 concern verdicts across the catalog; rule R9p decided 7,858 of them. Unchanged since September 5, 2026, engine 5.1.1.

Brand or formulator? Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →

Show the work
Rule
R9p — 0.5.0: 'Unproven' beside three filled dots read as one question answered twice with opposite words (7,018 rows). The chip measures standing, the dots measure trial volume; where the row carries at least one RCT or a tier-2 source (moderate dots) and the active is present at a working level, the honest word is Promising. Unproven is reserved for plausible-standing rows with limited or weak evidence, or an under-dosed form. Same rank as Unproven — a bet either way; the dots order them. · the full register
Carrying active
Niacinamide
Standing
plausible — trials support it
Form
adequate (declared 10%) — studied range 4%, from the trials on the row; needs leave-on contact; judge it after ~8 weeks
Tolerability
gentle
Row checked
against its sources on July 17, 2026 (evidence table ev-2026.09-r228)

The studies behind the evidence row

All large pores products →

Also listed for Dullness — the actives here (Niacinamide, Panthenol (Vitamin B5) are in our research queue for that concern; there is no verdict until their evidence rows are written. That is a gap in our table, not a mark against the product.

Where our review and the verdict differ. The review below was written on the formulation and the published trials; the verdicts above apply the stricter standing test in our methodology — an active earns a recommendation only with guideline or regulatory standing for the concern. Where the two disagree, the verdict is DermApproved’s position.

A verdict is DermApproved’s assessment of how well a product’s ingredients fit a concern — never a claim about what the product treats. Evidence dots and collected reviews sit beside it and are never blended in. Rules 0.5.1 · evidence table ev-2026.09-r228 · how we decide

Assessment

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ 10% niacinamide at upper effective concentration for aggressive brightening
  • ✓ Triple vitamin marketing is genuinely formulation-backed (niacinamide + ethyl vitamin C + glutathione)
  • ✓ 3% panthenol provides substantial barrier support buffering the niacinamide
  • ✓ Korean Hiami rice extract adds distinctive cultural heritage chemistry
  • ✓ Alpha-bisabolol soothes the high niacinamide action
  • ✓ Strong value at $28.10 for 80ml
  • ✓ Fragrance-free, vegan, fungal-acne safe
  • ✓ Pregnancy-safe

Cons

  • ✗ 10% niacinamide may cause flushing in sensitive users
  • ✗ Silicone content for those avoiding silicones
  • ✗ Some users prefer lower 4-5% niacinamide for tolerability
  • ✗ Newer 2024 launch — building review history
Review

Full Review

Niacinamide is the rare active where more is not automatically better, and the number on the front of a bottle can quietly become a liability. Plenty of people thrive on a modest four or five percent; push toward double digits and a meaningful minority start flushing, tingling, or generally regretting their enthusiasm. So a serum that puts ten percent niacinamide front and center is making a deliberate, slightly risky bet, and the interesting part of this Korean formula is how thoughtfully it tries to make that high dose livable rather than just loud.

The ten percent niacinamide sits at the second INCI position, squarely at the upper edge of the effective range, where its well-documented talents for brightening, barrier support, and sebum control are at full strength. The marketing's 'triple vitamin' claim turns out to be genuinely formulation-backed rather than a flourish: alongside the niacinamide (vitamin B3) sits 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, a stable, well-established vitamin C derivative that brightens and chips at pigment with far less of the instability that plagues pure L-ascorbic acid, plus glutathione, a master antioxidant with growing support for topical tyrosinase inhibition. Three distinct brightening mechanisms in one bottle is a legitimately comprehensive approach. Crucially, the formula does not just pile on actives and walk away. Panthenol, pro-vitamin B5, occupies the fourth position at a substantial three percent, doing real barrier-soothing and humectant work that buffers the high niacinamide rather than leaving skin to fend for itself, and alpha-bisabolol, the calming chamomile-derived compound, adds another well-established layer of soothing. One percent Korean Hiami rice extract from Haenam supplies ferulic acid, gamma-oryzanol antioxidants, and a thread of cultural skincare heritage that gives the serum its distinctive identity.

The way these three brightening actives divide the labor is what justifies the 'triple vitamin' framing as more than packaging copy. Niacinamide works by limiting how much pigment gets transferred from the cells that make it to the surface cells you actually see, the vitamin C derivative works upstream by interfering with the tyrosinase enzyme that builds melanin in the first place and by mopping up the free radicals that trigger pigment production, and glutathione adds its own tyrosinase-inhibiting and antioxidant contribution. Three different points of intervention on the same problem is precisely the logic that makes a combination serum worthwhile, and it is reinforced by the rice extract's ferulic acid and gamma-oryzanol, which are antioxidants in their own right and lend the formula a quiet, traditional-skincare coherence rather than a random pile of trendy names.

The top of the ingredient deck is reassuringly humectant-rich, water, niacinamide, butylene glycol, panthenol, and glycerin filling the leading positions, which is why the lightweight serum absorbs cleanly without the tacky residue that high-active formulas sometimes leave. It is fragrance-free, fungal-acne safe, and pregnancy-safe, which matters because pigmentation often flares during pregnancy precisely when the strongest correctors are off the table, and a high-niacinamide brightening serum is one of the few aggressive options that stays available. On the timeline you can reasonably expect visible brightening to emerge over four to six weeks, with cumulative fading of dark spots and dullness building across roughly eight to twelve weeks of consistent use, and as always the results depend on diligent daytime sun protection to keep new pigment from undoing the progress.

The central caveat is unavoidable and the formula's designers clearly know it: ten percent niacinamide can provoke flushing in sensitive users, and anyone whose skin runs reactive may genuinely be better served starting at a gentler four-to-five percent and working up. The serum is also not silicone-free, which is a non-issue for most people but a dealbreaker for the silicone-avoidant. And as a 2024 release from the brand's Seoul Edition line, it is still accumulating the long-term review history that turns medium data confidence into high.

A practical note on living with a high-niacinamide serum, because tolerance is the whole game with this concentration. The sensible path is to start with it a few evenings a week, watch for any flushing or stinging beyond a brief settling-in, and build to daily use only once your skin signals it is comfortable. Because the formula is fungal-acne safe and free of added fragrance, it layers without much conflict, and the panthenol-and-bisabolol cushioning genuinely does seem to take the edge off the dose, which is the difference between a ten percent niacinamide that reads as aggressive and one that reads as merely effective. People who have bounced off lower-strength niacinamide for tackiness may also be pleasantly surprised here, since the humectant-forward base keeps the finish clean rather than gummy.

Where it lands is excellent value for an ambitious formula. At roughly twenty-eight dollars for a generous eighty milliliters, this is an established K-beauty brand delivering high-concentration, multi-mechanism brightening at a per-ounce cost that punches well above its price, which is exactly why the value score climbs into the nineties. Buy it if you want aggressive, comprehensive brightening, your skin tolerates higher niacinamide, and you appreciate that the high dose is genuinely cushioned by panthenol and bisabolol rather than left raw. Skip it if you flush easily, prefer a lower-strength niacinamide for daily comfort, or insist on silicone-free clinical minimalism. For the right resilient, brightening-focused routine, it is one of the more intelligently constructed high-niacinamide serums available at this price.

Formula

Key Ingredients

The hero actives that drive this product's performance.

IngredientFunctionEvidence
Niacinamide (10%) (10%) Second INCI position at 10% concentration — upper end of effective niacinamide range with documented barrier, brightening, and sebum-modulating effects. High concentration may cause flushing in some users. Emerging for Hyperpigmentation
Korean Rice Extract (Oryza Sativa, 10,000ppm = 1%) (1%) Organic Hiami rice extract from Haenam, Korea — provides skin-brightening and skin-softening effects through ferulic acid and gamma-oryzanol content. Traditional Korean and Japanese skincare ingredient. Not yet assessed
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid (Stable Vitamin C) Stable ethyl vitamin C derivative provides aggressive brightening with better stability than L-ascorbic acid. Pairs with niacinamide for dual-mechanism pigmentation chemistry. Limited for Hyperpigmentation
Panthenol (3%, Pro-Vitamin B5) (3%) Fourth INCI position at 3% — substantial concentration provides barrier support and humectant chemistry that buffers the niacinamide and vitamin C action. Not yet assessed
Glutathione Master antioxidant adds further brightening through tyrosinase inhibition — triple vitamin marketing references niacinamide (B3), vitamin C derivative, and glutathione antioxidant chemistry combined. Not yet assessed
Alpha-Bisabolol Chamomile-derived anti-inflammatory compound that soothes the niacinamide treatment. Not yet assessed
Full INCI List

Purified Water, Niacinamide (10%), Butylene Glycol, Panthenol (3%), Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vinyl Dimethicone, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract (1%), 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Alpha-Bisabolol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Tocopherol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glutathione, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate

Safety & Formulation Facts
✓ Pregnancy Safe ✓ Fragrance Free✓ Alcohol Free✗ Oil Free✗ Silicone Free✓ Paraben Free✓ Sulfate Free✓ Cruelty Free✓ Vegan✓ Fungal Acne Safe
Potential Irritants
Niacinamide 10% (in sensitive users)
Compatibility

Skin Match

Best For
Works For
Routine Step

serum

Time of Day

AM & PM

Layering Tips

Apply after toner and before moisturizer in AM and PM. The high 10% niacinamide concentration may cause initial flushing — patch test for first use. Layers well with most other actives.

Results Timeline

Visible brightening over 4-6 weeks; cumulative dark spot fading over 8-12 weeks.

Pairs Well With
hyaluronic-acid-serummoisturizerspf-am
Planning a combo? Check it against what you already use
Sample AM Routine
  1. Cleanser
  2. Toner
  3. Mary & May Rice Niacin 10% Triple Vitamin Serum
  4. Moisturizer
  5. SPF
Sample PM Routine
  1. Cleanser
  2. Toner
  3. Mary & May Rice Niacin 10% Triple Vitamin Serum
  4. Moisturizer
Evidence

Science & Expert Perspective

The Science

Niacinamide at 4-10% concentrations has well-documented brightening, barrier, and sebum-regulating effects. The 10% concentration is at the upper effective range with growing tolerability considerations. 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid is a stable vitamin C derivative with documented brightening efficacy. Glutathione has growing research support for topical brightening through tyrosinase inhibition. Korean rice extract has documented antioxidant and skin-conditioning content. The combined formulation represents sophisticated multi-mechanism brightening chemistry.

References
  1. Niacinamide concentration optimization — International Journal of Cosmetic Science (2005)

Dermatologist Perspective

High-concentration niacinamide serums (10%+) are commonly recommended in dermatology for patients with significant pigmentation, oiliness, or pore concerns. The Mary & May formulation's chemistry is consistent with mainstream clinical recommendations.

Guidance

Usage & Recommendations

How to Use

Apply 3-4 drops to clean fingertips after toner and gently press into face and neck. Use both morning and evening. Always SPF in AM.

Value Assessment

At $28.10 for 80ml ($10.39 per ounce), the serum offers strong value within K-beauty multi-active brightening category.

Who Should Buy

Users seeking high-concentration niacinamide with comprehensive supporting chemistry. K-beauty enthusiasts. Combination, oily, or pigmentation-concerned skin tolerating high niacinamide.

Who Should Skip

Users sensitive to high niacinamide (start with 4-5% alternatives). Silicone-avoiders. Anyone preferring clinical simplicity over multi-active sophistication.

Ready to try Mary & May Rice Niacin 10% Triple Vitamin Serum?

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Details

Product Details

Texture

Lightweight serum that absorbs cleanly

Scent

Fragrance-free

Packaging

Plastic bottle with dropper

Finish
lightweightsatinnon-greasy
What to Expect on First Use

Lightweight serum that absorbs in seconds. Some users may experience mild initial flushing from the high 10% niacinamide concentration that subsides within 30 minutes. Cumulative brightening builds over weeks.

How Long It Lasts

Approximately 2-3 months applied morning and evening face application

Period After Opening

12 months

Opened yours? Track the toss-by date
Best Season

All Year

Certifications
cruelty-freevegan
Background

The Story Behind This Product

Released 2024 as part of Mary & May's Seoul Edition line — featuring Korean ingredient heritage (Hiami rice from Haenam, Korea).

About Mary & May Established Brand (5–20 years)

Mary & May Rice Niacin 10% Triple Vitamin Serum combines 10% niacinamide with organic Korean rice extract (10,000ppm = 1%), 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid stable vitamin C, panthenol (30,000ppm = 3%), and glutathione. The high-concentration multi-active brightening chemistry at K-beauty pricing is distinctive.

Brand founded: 2018 · Product launched: 2024
Myth vs. Reality

Common Myths

Myth

Higher niacinamide concentrations always produce better results.

Reality

Niacinamide has well-documented benefits at 2-5% concentrations. Concentrations above 5% (like 10%) may provide modestly better brightening but also increase flushing risk in sensitive users. The benefit curve plateaus — 10% isn't categorically better than 5% for all users, and tolerability decreases.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Will 10% niacinamide cause flushing?

Possible — high niacinamide concentrations (above 5%) can cause initial flushing in some users that subsides within 30 minutes. If you're sensitive or new to niacinamide, start with lower concentrations like The Ordinary 10% (which actually contains zinc that may cause more flushing) or Naturium 12% Niacinamide. Patch test for first use.

Can I use the Rice Niacin 10% Triple Vitamin Serum while pregnant or breastfeeding?

Yes — niacinamide, panthenol, rice extract, vitamin C derivative, and glutathione are all pregnancy-compatible.

How does this compare to The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%?

The Ordinary uses 10% niacinamide + zinc PCA in simple base. Mary & May uses 10% niacinamide + rice extract + ethyl vitamin C + glutathione + panthenol + bisabolol in more sophisticated multi-active formulation. Mary & May costs more but offers more comprehensive chemistry.

What is Korean Hiami rice?

Hiami rice from Haenam, Korea is a specific Korean rice variety with documented antioxidant and skin-conditioning content. Traditional Korean and Japanese skincare ingredient with growing modern research support.

Is this fungal-acne safe?

Yes — oil-free, fragrance-free formulation.

How long until results?

Visible brightening typically over 4-6 weeks; dark spot fading over 8-12 weeks of consistent twice-daily use.

Reviews

What Reviewers Tend to Say

Recurring themes our editors read across retailer reviews of this product — summaries in our words, not quotations, and not a substitute for your own patch test.

Common Praise

10% niacinamide is high concentration for K-beauty serum

Korean rice extract adds distinctive brightening chemistry

Triple vitamin marketing is genuinely formulation-backed

Panthenol 3% provides substantial barrier support

Strong value at $28.10 for 80ml

Common Complaints

10% niacinamide may cause flushing in sensitive users

Some users prefer lower 4-5% niacinamide for tolerability

Silicone content for those avoiding silicones

Notable Endorsements
Mary & May Seoul Edition platformAmazon and Korean retailer distribution
Appears In
Serums That Suit DullnessSerums That Suit Large PoresBest Vitamin C SerumsBest Vitamin C Serums for Hyperpigmentation
Related Conditions
hyperpigmentationdullnessexcess oilinessdark spotslarge pores
Related Ingredients
niacinamiderice extractpanthenolantioxidants