Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum Versus Solawave Renew Complex Activating Serum

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum versus Solawave Renew Complex Activating Serum .

Last updated on July 17, 2023. Published on December 06, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan and reef safe serums. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

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Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum

Solawave Renew Complex Activating Serum

Serum American Brand United States

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum

Starts at $19.99

Shop

Buy Renew Complex Activating Serum

Starts at $32.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum 16 ingredients

Solawave Renew Complex Activating Serum 19 ingredients

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum 16 ingredients

Solawave Renew Complex Activating Serum 19 ingredients

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Redness Reducing

Reduces Irritation

Dark Spots

Scar Healing

Brightening

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Redness Reducing (2)

Reduces Irritation (2)

Scar Healing

Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin

Eczema

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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum 16 ingredients

Solawave Renew Complex Activating Serum 19 ingredients

Water • Alpha-Arbutin • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sambucus Nigra Fruit Juice • Glycerin • Sclerotium Gum • Xanthan Gum • Sodium Levulinate • Polyglutamic Acid • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Propanediol • Sodium Phytate • Ethylhexylglycerin • Sodium Anisate • Citric Acid

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Propanediol • Glycerin • Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil • Sodium Hyaluronate • Glyceryl Polyacrylate • Heptyl Glucoside • Water • Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water • Allantoin • Acrylates Copolymer • Xanthan Gum • Triethanolamine • Ethylhexylglycerin • Potassium Sorbate • Benzoic Acid • Disodium EDTA • Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Water

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Solawave Renew Complex Activating Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.

Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.

It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.

Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

Solawave Renew Complex Activating Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Sodium Hyaluronate

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

Solawave Renew Complex Activating Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

Glycerin

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

Solawave Renew Complex Activating Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

Xanthan Gum

What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

Solawave Renew Complex Activating Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

Propanediol

What it does: Solvent

Community Rating: Liked

Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.

It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Learn more about Propanediol

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.

Solawave Renew Complex Activating Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

Ethylhexylglycerin

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.

Solawave Renew Complex Activating Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum 16 ingredients

Solawave Renew Complex Activating Serum 19 ingredients

56% are loved or liked

13% have mixed ratings

19% are disliked or very disliked

13% have no rating yet

37% are loved or liked

16% have mixed ratings

42% are disliked or very disliked

5% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum 16 ingredients

Solawave Renew Complex Activating Serum 19 ingredients

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum 16 ingredients

4.5 /5

from 2 ratings

Light (2) Absorbs Well (1) Hydrating (1) Works Well (1)

hobimiin_110

4 months ago · Normal Skin

Review

I have fungal acne and a damaged moisture barrier. I find that this serum doesn’t sting or irritate my skin. It is gentle, hydrating, and soothing....

I have fungal acne and a damaged moisture barrier. I find that this serum doesn’t sting or irritate my skin. It is gentle, hydrating, and soothing. My skin has brightened up after two weeks of use. I love that this serum has aloe fruit juice and elderberry extract. They are such soothing ingredients for my skin. In terms of texture, this serum is watery with a slight slip to it. It has a pleasant texture. I haven’t experienced any stickiness or pilling.

Acure

Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum

DamDamfino

3 months ago · Combination Skin

Review

I got a small 10ml tester size of this, and while I don't think I was able to use it long enough to see any results, I also didn't have any...

I got a small 10ml tester size of this, and while I don't think I was able to use it long enough to see any results, I also didn't have any negative side effects while using it either. No irritation or breakouts. I mixed it with the Cosrx snail mucin essence in my hand before application to combine two steps in one.

Acure

Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum

Light